Concept Study of Radio Frequency (RF) Plasma Thruster for Space Propulsion
Journal Title: INCAS BULLETIN - Year 2016, Vol 8, Issue 4
Abstract
Electric thrusters are capable of accelerating ions to speeds that are impossible to reach using chemical reaction. Recent advances in plasma-based concepts have led to the identification of electromagnetic (RF) generation and acceleration systems as able to provide not only continuous thrust, but also highly controllable and wide-range exhaust velocities. For Future Space Propulsion there is a pressing need for low pressure, high mass flow rate and controlled ion energies. This paper explores the potential of using RF heated plasmas for space propulsion in order to mitigate the electric propulsion problems caused by erosion and gain flexibility in plasma manipulation. The main key components of RF thruster architecture are: a feeding system able to provide the required neutral gas flow, plasma source chamber, antenna/electrodes wrapped around the discharge tube and optimized electromagnetic field coils for plasma confinement. A preliminary analysis of system performance (thrust, specific impulse, efficiency) is performed along with future plans of Space Propulsion based on this new concept of plasma mechanism.
Authors and Affiliations
Anna-Maria Theodora ANDREESCU, Maximilian-Vlad TEODORESCU, Jeni Alina POPESCU, Valeriu-Alexandru VILAG, Adrian STOICESCU
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP249237
- DOI 10.13111/2066-8201.2016.8.4.2
- Views 107
- Downloads 0
Book Review: English-Romanian Dictionary for Mechanical Engineering, Lorena DELEANU, Gabriela DIMA, Daniela SORCARU Editura Didactica si Pedagogica, Bucuresti, 2009 Vol. 1: A-M, Vol. 2: N-Z, ISBN 978-973-30-2595-5
LAMINAR STABILITY ANALYSIS IN BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW
This study presents a numerical study concerning the flow control by suction and injection. The case study is over a symmetrical airfoil with suction and injection slots. The angle of attack is 3 degree with the Mach num...
Book Review: Low Speed Wind Tunnel Testing, Jewel B. BARLOW, William H. RAE Jr., Alan POPE John Wiley & Sons, New York, Toronto, 1999, 3rd Edition, ISBN 978-0-471-55774-9
Implementation of a correction factor for the Pohlhausen laminar boundary layer applied on the CEVA curved wall jet model
Curved wall jets have many technical applications, ranging from aeronautical circulation controlled wings to micro-fluidics and cryogenics. This paper addresses the issue of correctly estimating the boundary layer separa...
Comparative Analysis Program for Experimental and Calculated Data
This article aims to provide an interactive in-house tool to quickly asses the stress in the critical points of the aeronautical structures. The software compares the results between the stress values obtained from the e...