Ablative Z-pinch pulsed plasma thruster

T. E. Markusic, K. A. Polzin, J. Z. Levine, C. A. McLeavey, E. Y. Choueiri

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

The Z-pinch configuration in gas-fed devices was adapted for an ablative Pulsed Plasma Thruster (PPT). The motivation stems from the promise of the Z-pinch configuration for increasing the thrustto- power ratio and mass utilization efficiency. A series of ablative Z-pinch PPTs were constructed and their performance measured using a swinging gate thrust stand and mass ablation measurements. Several iterations of the design lead to the selection of a thruster with an augmented "spike" inner electrode for more exhaustive testing. Peak performance parameters for this configuration were found to be: Isp = 574 s, ηt = 7.5 %, and T/P = 28 μN/W. In order to determine whether the plamsa was pinching, photographs of the discharge were acquired using a modified thruster having transparent Plexiglas propellant and mesh sidewalls. A current sheet structure leading to a plasma pinch was observed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000
Event35th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference and Exhibit 2000 - Las Vegas, NV, United States
Duration: Jul 24 2000Jul 28 2000

Other

Other35th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference and Exhibit 2000
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityLas Vegas, NV
Period7/24/007/28/00

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

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