Plasma Engine

Mario Merino Martnez Universidad Politcnica de Madrid
Magnetic Nozzles for Plasma Space Propulsion YAEY 2010

1
Magnetic Nozzles for Plasma
Space Propulsion
Mario Merino Martnez
Universidad Politcnica de Madrid
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Contents
About this Project
Key aspects of Electric Propulsion
Magnetic Nozzles
Physical and Mathematical Modeling
Numeric Integration and Simulation
Main Results
(Other) Conclusions
3
About this Project
PSP research group at UPM
http://web.fmetsia.upm.es/psp/
Main Objectives:
1. Gain understanding: MN physics, review SoA
2. Develop a robust physical-mathematical model of the MN
3. Implement model in a computer program and simulate
4. Study and analyze:
Acceleration mechanisms and relevant physics of the expansion
Influence of the main control parameters
Existence and role of electric currents inside the plasma
Propulsive performances and plume efficiency of the nozzle
Role of electron thermodynamics in the jet development
4
Key aspects of Electric Propulsion
Thermoelectrical Electrostatic Electromagnetic
5
Magnetic Nozzles
What are MN? Physical description
What do they do? Guide, expand,
accelerate a plasma jet
Similarities with a traditional, solid
nozzle (de Laval):
Convergent-Divergent geometry
Sonic conditions at the throat (ions)
Different physics, mechanisms
Any advantage over de Laval Nozzles?
Wall-plasma contact is avoided
Throttlability: Thrust and I
sp
continuous control by changing field
intensity and geometry
Other applications: Advanced
Manufacturing Systems
Issues may exist: Magnetic
detachment downstream
6
Main Thrusters using MN
Applied-Field MPD Thruster:
More protected electrodes
Greater performances, efficiency
Different acc. mechanisms identified
Helicon Thruster
High density plasma. Some studies
point to the existence of a small fraction
of hot electrons interesting
propulsive advantages
VASIMR
Magnetic Mirror effects
Helicon Source + ICRH + MN
I
sp
& thrust control through MN
Diverging Cusped Field Thruster (MIT)
Similar to HET, avoids wall erosion to
large extent
Formation of magnetic bottles at cusps
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Description of the Model
Develop a physically-coherent two-dimensional model
to characterize expansion & acceleration, study electric
current formation, analyze the influence of control
parameters, and assess plume efficiency of the MN
Magnetic field created by a single current loop
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Main Hypotheses of the Model
Axisymmetric and quasi-stationary flow
Completely ionized (no neutrals), collisionless plasma
Ions (Single-charged) and electrons treated
as two independent, interpenetrating fluid species
Quasineutrality is fulfilled
Electron inertia neglected
Cold ions (ion pressure neglected)
Electrons are completely magnetized
in the region under study
Any degree of ion magnetization
Electrons are treated as an isothermal or a polytrophic species
Plasma self-induced magnetic field neglected
vs applied field
No net electric current in the plasma jet
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( )
Electron equations
Isothermal
electrons:
Polytrophic
electrons:
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Ion Equations
Continuity Eq., using electron Mom. Eq.:
Ion Momentum Eq.:
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Control Parameters
Model can be made dimensionless:
Control parameters:
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Numeric Integration and Simulation
3 pdes Necessity to
employ numeric methods
M.O.C. reduces them to
3 odes along
characteristic lines
Predictor-Correctors
scheme further
reduces them
to 3 des
DiMagNo 2D code is fast
and accurate first of its
kind devoted to MN
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DiMagNo 2D Integration Algorithm
Spatial discretization, advance logic
Three types of points:
Initial (Euler) projection and intersection of
Characteristics
Calculation of new-point properties
Line readjustment and property recalculation with
Runge-Kutta 2
Frontline advancement and Characteristic lines
propagation, forming a mesh
Code is modular and extensible
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Results: Initially uniformJet
Two nozzles (long, left;
short, right)
Mach number
Density and potential
1D Model (red lines)
used to validate results
Density focalization
Isothermal electrons:
Potential
Ion magnetization (see
below) decreases radial
gradients.
Solid: 0.1
Dashed: 10
Dash-and-dot: 100
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Results Initially non-uniformjet
Mach Number and
Potential profiles are
similar differences
occur mainly in the outer
sl. similar
performances expected
Much larger radial
density gradient
throughout the MN
Solid: 0.1
Dashed: 10
Dash-and-dot: 100
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Results: Effects of Ion Magnetization
Partial Ion magnetization
causes ion and electron
streamtubes to separate:
Longitudinal electric
currents do arise
Ions are put into rotation
(although the azimuthal
current they generate is
negligible)
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Results: The role of the Hall Current
Magnetic force exerted on the plasma per unit volume:
Initially uniform jet:
No azimuthal electron currents exist inside the plasma volume, but a
current sheet develops at the plasma-vacuum transition: all Hall
current and magnetic force is concentrated there
Initially non-uniform jet:
Maximal Hall current takes place inside the jet. A relative
displacement of this maximum toward the axis takes place due to
density focalization Maximal magnetic force behaves likewise
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Results: Nozzle Performances and Efficiency
Delivered Thrust gain (and I
sp
) depend mainly on
nozzle shape and initial radial gradients
Ion kinetic power is almost insensitive to radial
gradients
2D model allows to obtain plume efficiency
(radial losses due to divergence):
Initial gradients, low ion magnetization and
slowly diverging, long nozzles provide best
efficiencies
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Results: Electron Thermodynamics (Polytrophic)
Blue line: isothermal 1D
Greater Mach numbers are
reached as the
temperature falls,
especially at the outer sl.
(but lower ion velocities)
Greater influence of ion
magnetization
Density profiles and
currents are similar
Electric potential has an
asymptote:
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(Other) Conclusions
Non-negligible longitudinal electric currents exist
Current ambipolarity condition not fulfilled
In general, most kinetic energy of the jet has a
thermoelectric origin, but there exists also a
electromagnetic contribution (extracted from the
magnetic circuit currents)
Polytrophic electrons yield lower thrust, but higher plume
efficiency
Ion magnetization should be kept to a minimum, since it
spoils efficiency and hinders magnetic detachment
downstream
Preliminary detachment studies (not discussed here)
reveal the importance of the Hall currents
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Future research lines
Include two or more electron
populations at different temperatures
(related to Helicon Thrusters)
Done: hot&cold electrons can bring
large improvements of propulsive
performances!
Include resistivity (collisions),
electron inertia, and self-induced
magnetic field, to assess the three main
envisioned detachment mechanisms
Our current work deals with this
Allow special ion distribution functions,
to better study MN of the VASIMR
Extend the applicability of the DiMagNo
2D code to other fields (traditional
nozzles, reentry capsule flows, etc.)
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Conferences and Published Articles
1. E. Ahedo and M. Merino, Two-dimensional plasma acceleration
in a divergent Magnetic Nozzle, 45th Joint Propulsion Conference,
Denver, CO, AIAA 2009-5361, 25 August 2009.
2. E. Ahedo and M. Merino, Acceleration of a focused plasma jet in
a divergent Magnetic Nozzle, 31st International Electric
Propulsion Conference, University of Michigan, USA, September
2024, 2009.
3. E. Ahedo, M. Merino, Two-dimensional supersonic expansion of a
plasma jet in a divergent Magnetic Nozzle, Physics of Plasmas
(2010; accepted for publication).
4. M. Merino, E. Ahedo, Two-Dimensional Magnetic Nozzle
Acceleration of a Two-Electron Component Plasma, 2nd Space
Propulsion Conference, 36 May 2010, San Sebastian, Spain.
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Thank you for your
attention
Questions?

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Mario Merino Martnez Universidad Politcnica de Madrid

Magnetic Nozzles for Plasma Space Propulsion YAEY 2010

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