The paper deals with the experimental assessment of the effectiveness of introducing an insulating plate in the discharge chamber of an MPD thruster as a method of passively control the development of m=1 n=1 kink instability at critical regimes. A comparison of the performance in terms of electrical characteristics and thrust among a benchmark configuration (no plate) of a gas-fed MPD thruster and five different thruster configurations (plates with different shape and dimensions) is illustrated. Tests have been carried out with argon as propellant and with and without an externally applied magnetic field. Results indicate the plates have no significant or detrimental effects on the performance at low applied magnetic field. On the contrary, some plate configurations have shown to be effective at high applied magnetic field and current, by decreasing the arc voltage drop without significant effect on the thrust, with respect to the benchmark configuration.
Experimental Assessment of a Passive Method for MHD Instability Suppression in MPD Thrusters
PAGANUCCI, FABRIZIO;ANDRENUCCI, MARIANO;
2007-01-01
Abstract
The paper deals with the experimental assessment of the effectiveness of introducing an insulating plate in the discharge chamber of an MPD thruster as a method of passively control the development of m=1 n=1 kink instability at critical regimes. A comparison of the performance in terms of electrical characteristics and thrust among a benchmark configuration (no plate) of a gas-fed MPD thruster and five different thruster configurations (plates with different shape and dimensions) is illustrated. Tests have been carried out with argon as propellant and with and without an externally applied magnetic field. Results indicate the plates have no significant or detrimental effects on the performance at low applied magnetic field. On the contrary, some plate configurations have shown to be effective at high applied magnetic field and current, by decreasing the arc voltage drop without significant effect on the thrust, with respect to the benchmark configuration.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.