Performance of a hydrogen-pulsed electrothermal thruster. Strategic Defense Initiative Organization innovative science and technology. SBIR. Phase 1. Final report, 12 January-12 July 1987

Technical Report · Mon Sep 28 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:7225503

Burton, R L; Goldstein, S A; Wang, S Y

This report describes effort to determine the technical feasibility of measuring the performance of a pulsed electrothermal thruster on liquid hydrogen propellant. The design of a 5-kW thruster is presented, including the capacitive pulse-forming network, arc-discharge characteristics, nozzle performance, and predicted specific impulse and thrust. A thermal model is discussed which treats and solves the problem of liquid hydrogen. It is concluded that a Phase II test should concentrate on water and/or hydrazine, and liquid-hydrogen testing should be postponed to Phase III.

• Research Organization: GT-Devices, Inc., Alexandria, VA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7225503
• Report Number(s): AD-A-191999/2/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300800* -- Direct Energy Conversion-- Miscellaneous Converters
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
990500 -- Civilian Defense-- (-1987)
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
CURRENTS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELEMENTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NATIONAL DEFENSE
NONMETALS
NOZZLES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROGRESS REPORT
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
PULSES
THRUSTERS
WATER