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Title: Evaluation of a steady state MPD thruster test facility

Abstract

The successful development of multimegawatt MPD thrusters depends, to a great extent, on testing them under steady state high altitude space conditions. Steady state testing is required to provide thermal characteristics, life cycle, erosion, and other essential data. the major technical obstacle for ground testing of MPD thrusters in a space simulation facility is the inability of state-of-the-art vacuum systems to handle the tremendous pumping speeds required for multimegawatt MPD thrusters. This is true for other types of electric propulsion devices as well. This paper discusses the results of the first phase of an evaluation of steady state MPD thruster test facilities. The first phase addresses the conceptual design of vacuum systems required to support multimegawatt MPD thruster testing. Three advanced pumping system concepts were evaluated and are presented here.

Authors:
; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Lab., IL (USA); Air Force Rocket Propulsion Lab., Edwards AFB, CA (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6047004
Report Number(s):
CONF-8509205-1
ON: DE86003051
DOE Contract Number:  
W-31-109-ENG-38
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: 18. AIAA/DGLR/JSASS international electric propulsion conference, Alexandria, WA, USA, 30 Sep 1985; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING; PROPULSION SYSTEMS; TEST FACILITIES; SPACE VEHICLES; ARGON; EROSION; FLUID FLOW; HIGH VACUUM; PROPELLANTS; PUMPING; STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS; TESTING; THERMODYNAMICS; THRUSTERS; ELEMENTS; FLUIDS; GASES; NONMETALS; RARE GASES; VEHICLES; NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems; 420200* - Engineering- Facilities, Equipment, & Techniques

Citation Formats

Reed, C B, Carlson, L W, Herman, H, Doss, E D, and Kilgore, O. Evaluation of a steady state MPD thruster test facility. United States: N. p., 1985. Web.
Reed, C B, Carlson, L W, Herman, H, Doss, E D, & Kilgore, O. Evaluation of a steady state MPD thruster test facility. United States.
Reed, C B, Carlson, L W, Herman, H, Doss, E D, and Kilgore, O. 1985. "Evaluation of a steady state MPD thruster test facility". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6047004.
@article{osti_6047004,
title = {Evaluation of a steady state MPD thruster test facility},
author = {Reed, C B and Carlson, L W and Herman, H and Doss, E D and Kilgore, O},
abstractNote = {The successful development of multimegawatt MPD thrusters depends, to a great extent, on testing them under steady state high altitude space conditions. Steady state testing is required to provide thermal characteristics, life cycle, erosion, and other essential data. the major technical obstacle for ground testing of MPD thrusters in a space simulation facility is the inability of state-of-the-art vacuum systems to handle the tremendous pumping speeds required for multimegawatt MPD thrusters. This is true for other types of electric propulsion devices as well. This paper discusses the results of the first phase of an evaluation of steady state MPD thruster test facilities. The first phase addresses the conceptual design of vacuum systems required to support multimegawatt MPD thruster testing. Three advanced pumping system concepts were evaluated and are presented here.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6047004}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}

Conference:
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