Performance of a 100 kW, applied field magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster was evaluated and sensitivities of discharge characteristics to arc current, mass flow rate, and applied magnetic field were investigated. Thermal efficiencies as high as 60 percent, thrust efficiencies up to 21 percent, and specific impulses of up to 1150 s were attained with argon propellant. Thrust levels up to 2.5 N were directly measured with an inverted pendulum thrust stand at discharge input powers up to 57 kW. It was observed that thrust increased monotonically with the product of arc current and magnet current.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Performance of a 100 kW class applied field MPD thruster


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Joint Propulsion Conference ; 1989 ; Monterey, CA, United States


    Publication date :

    1989-07-01


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Performance of a 100 kW class applied field MPD thruster

    MANTENIEKS, M. / SOVEY, J. / HAAG, T. et al. | AIAA | 1989


    Performance of a 100 kW class applied field MPD thruster

    Mantenieks, M. A. / Sovey, J. S. / Haag, T. W. et al. | NTRS | 1989


    Experimental Study of a Hundred-Kilowatt-Class Applied-Field Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster

    Albertoni, Riccardo / Paganucci, Fabrizio / Rossetti, Paola et al. | AIAA | 2013