System & Magnetohydrodynamic Simulation Investigation on Pulsed Inductive Thrusters
- Paper number
IAC-16,C4,IP,45,x32673
- Author
Mr. Bixuan Che, National University of Defense Technology, China
- Coauthor
Dr. Xiaokang Li, National University of Defense Technology, China
- Coauthor
Prof. Mousen Cheng, National University of Defense Technology, China
- Coauthor
Dr. Yuguo Cheng, National University of Defense Technology, China
- Coauthor
Mr. Danming Li, Lanzhou Institute of Physics,CAST, China
- Year
2016
- Abstract
Pulsed Inductive Thruster (PIT), which is a novel and promising propulsion concept, employs a strong electromagnetic field stroke to generate and accelerate a plasma current sheet. Two simulation models, one 1-D circuit-current sheet coupling model for the whole system while the other a 2-D axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic(MHD) model for the plasma flow field, are respectively built to study the PIT performance comprehensively. Factors which influence the quality of current sheet formation and acceleration are discussed, and parameter principles are also concluded. Results from the 1-D model indicates that to reach high performance, a critical requirement for the matching between circuit discharge period and current sheet movement must be achieved, and initial gas compressing against the coil face is also highly profitable. Results from the 2-D model indicates that a well-formed uniform current sheet structure could sweep the gas more thoroughly and thus lead to higher propellant utilization efficiency. Moreover, under identical discharge energy, narrower pulse period generates a better current sheet, and this may ask for a relative higher discharge voltage but lower capacitor value. Parameter principles derive from the two models come up with several conflicts, for example: for coil inductance value of the circuit, larger inductance couples more energy to accelerate the propellant but also causes a worse current sheet because its’ inductive electric field is weaker. Given both system coupling and plasma flow field, aforementioned two principles are discussed qualitative and quantitatively. Lastly, design and optimization rules for an PIT system are proposed.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)