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 language | English (US) |
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DOIs | |
State | Published - 2000 |
Event | 35th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference and Exhibit 2000 - Las Vegas, NV, United States Duration: Jul 24 2000 → Jul 28 2000 |
Other
Other | 35th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference and Exhibit 2000 |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | Las Vegas, NV |
Period | 7/24/00 → 7/28/00 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment