A numerical model for the investigation of' the flow field in a low power electrothermal arcjet employing hydrazine as propellant is presented. The model is based on the axisymmetric, laminar, complete Navier-Stokes equations, thus Including both heat conduction and viscous effects. Electromagnetic effects- are simply modeled through a heat source term in the energy equation to take into account the ohmic heating due to the electric arc; so field equation for the electric potential is solved. The gas mixture deriving from hydrazine decomposition is assumed to be in thermodynamic but chemical equilibrium. The governing equations are solved by MacCormack's explicit technique. Computed results compare favorably with experimental data from CENTROSPAZIO MOD4 low power arcjet operating with simulated hydrazine.
Development of a Numerical Model of the Nozzle Flow in Low Power Arcjet Thrusters
D'AGOSTINO, LUCA;ANDRENUCCI, MARIANO
1993-01-01
Abstract
A numerical model for the investigation of' the flow field in a low power electrothermal arcjet employing hydrazine as propellant is presented. The model is based on the axisymmetric, laminar, complete Navier-Stokes equations, thus Including both heat conduction and viscous effects. Electromagnetic effects- are simply modeled through a heat source term in the energy equation to take into account the ohmic heating due to the electric arc; so field equation for the electric potential is solved. The gas mixture deriving from hydrazine decomposition is assumed to be in thermodynamic but chemical equilibrium. The governing equations are solved by MacCormack's explicit technique. Computed results compare favorably with experimental data from CENTROSPAZIO MOD4 low power arcjet operating with simulated hydrazine.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
