Hybrid Simulate Study on Pulsed Plasma Thruster
- Paper number
IAC-09.C4.P.19
- Author
Mr. yang le, China
- Year
2009
- Abstract
The Pulsed Plasma Thruster (PPT) has some advantages including small bulk, light weight, compact framework, easy control and high reliability. Thus, it can play an important role in the propulsion system of micro and small satellites. For improving PPT’s performance and enhancing its efficiency, it is necessary to deeply understand the physical mechanism of operating process such as propellant consumption law, the electromagnetic acceleration mechanism, electro-thermal acceleration mechanism, and so on. For the purpose of prediction of the PPT induced environment and possible interactions with the spacecraft, it is important to understand the PPT plume composition and transport mechanisms of the plume species. There is an experimental parallel-plate PPT designed. This paper used MHD model for the physical process of plasma generation in the channel and DSMC（Direct Simulation Monte-Carlo）/PIC (Particle in Cell) fluid hybrid method for the plume to simulate this PPT. There are some basic assumptions for the plasma flow in the channel: there are one-fluid and quasi-neutral plasma, and the Saha equations can be used; the plasma consists of the electrons, neutrals C and F and ions C+ and F+. The MHD model used the eighth wave governing equations to achieve 3 dimension results in the channel of PPT. Then use the MHD results as the exit boundary condition of plume simulation. The DSMC/PIC fluid hybrid method was developed by Gatsonis, and has used to simulate the PPT plume successfully. The conditions of PPT at different initial voltage are simulated. The MHD model has good results comparing to that of the experiment at the impulse bit, and has smaller results at the ablate mass. Then the temperature, velocity and density in the channel of PPT are achieved and analyzed. At last, the varieties of plume at different initial voltage predicted by hybrid method. The results show that the bigger capacitor bring higher mass flux, higher neutral ratio and bigger affect region. CEX collisions and non-CEX collisions with together exist at the thruster’s exit, both with high frequency; CEX collisions become the main kind of collision at the plume edge.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)