THRUST FROM PARTLY IONIZED MONATOMIC GASES
A monatomic, partly ionized gas with uniform stagnation properties is considered flowing in thermal equilibrium through a converging-diverging nozzle. The relationship is established between critical mass flow density and the following stagnation properties: pressure, enthalpy, and degree of ionization. Based on this relationship, thrust output at the throat as well as at large nozzle expansion ratios was analyzed for one-dimensional steady flow. For achieving the same nozzle efficiency, expansion ratios for the initially ionized gas have to be several orders of magnitude greater than in the case of conventional, unionized gases. The thrust output at the nozzle throat as compared to the maximum obtainable thrust, amounting to 80% in the un-ionized case, may be as low as 50% for the fully ionized gas. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Rice Univ., Houston, Tex.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-16-033589
- OSTI ID:
- 4774004
- Journal Information:
- ARS(Am. Rocket Soc.) J., Vol. Vol: 32; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-62
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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