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Electrothermal Plenum Thruster Simulations Varying Input Pressure And Voltage, Naomi Nicole Ingram

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

A radiofrequency electrothermal thruster is designed and simulated to create a low ionization energy plasma from a neutral propellant using a radio-frequency power. With an asymmetrical surface area ratio between the grounded and powered electrode, ion-neutral charge exchange collisions occurring within the propellant result in propellant heating. The Electrothermal Plenum Thruster conducts this propellant heating in an annular plenum chamber in attempt to maximize propellant heating. A software called CFD-ACE+ is utilized to demonstrate the effects of an enhanced sheath from the asymmetrical power coupling arrangement. Two sets of simulations are run to understand how input variables affect the plasma …