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Large diameter inductive plasma thrusters

Conference · · AIAA Pap.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5012128
 [1];  [2]
  1. TRW Defense and Space Systems Group, Redondo Beach, Calif.
  2. California, University, La Jolla, Calif.
The paper presents the results of a theoretical and experimental study of the thruster efficiency of a large, impulsive plasma accelerator. An inductive device using a 1-meter diameter, flat, spiral coil to produce a closed loop, electrodeless plasma current sheet is analyzed. Freedom from electrode effects simplifies measurement and analysis of the current sheet while avoiding energy loss. The analytical model used in the study represents an inductive plasma accelerator as a transformer having N primary turns and a single-turn secondary. Experiments on a 1-meter coil yield an efficiency of 38% at 1700 seconds Isp, where a 30 cm coil had previously produced a maximum of 18% efficiency at 1500 seconds Isp. The analytical model predicts 60% efficiency at 5000 seconds Isp for a 2-meter coil, indicating that the large coil accelerator may be suited for high thrust-level missions.
OSTI ID:
5012128
Report Number(s):
CONF-791046-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: AIAA Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: 79-2093
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English