Preliminary investigation of power flow and performance phenomena in a multi megawatt coaxial plasma thruster

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/27.256783· OSTI ID:142406

Schoenberg, K F; Gerwin, R A; Henins, I; Scheuer, J T; Wurden, G A; Mayo, R M ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)

This paper summarizes preliminary experimental and theoretical research that was directed toward the study of quasi-steady-state power flow in a large, unoptimized, multi-megawatt coaxial plasma thruster. The paper addresses large coaxial thruster operation and includes evaluation and interpretation of the experimental results with a view to the development of efficient, steady-state, megawatt-class magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters. Experimental studies utilized the Coaxial Thruster Experiment (CTX) facility at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Highlights of this study include the observations that the measured longitudinal flow velocity of the propellant was in essential agreement with the prediction of self-field nozzle theory, achieving Alfvenic flow velocities of {approximately}10{sup 5} m/s. Furthermore, radiative emission was a negligible power loss mechanism (< 10%) over the operational power range studied. Preliminary measurements indicate that the magnetic topology between anode and cathode can produce a substantial influence on the electrode sheath potentials, especially on the anode fall. This thereby suggests a means for influencing the power deposited on the electrodes, with concomitant benefits to thruster efficiency, without relinquishing axisymmetry.

• OSTI ID: 142406
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 21; ISSN ITPSBD; ISSN 0093-3813
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
DYNAMICS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
PERFORMANCE
PLASMA ACCELERATION
PLASMA GUNS
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
TEST FACILITIES
THRUSTERS