Numerous thrust and voltage models for applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters (AF-MPDTs) exist, however, all have been formulated using data for conventionally high current AF-MPDTs. To address a perceived gap in knowledge about smaller thrusters, a review of low-power applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic thruster research and published thrust and voltage models is presented. Using available experimental data limited to a low-power high magnetic field strength regime, a database of pertinent physical and operational parameters is established and used in a comparative study to evaluate the accuracy of published performance models. Statistical analysis of the models was used to create a corrected low-power AF-MPDT performance model. When applied to the database, an improvement in model accuracy is achieved. It is found that AF-MPDTs in the low-power regime with high applied magnetic field strengths can present a feasible alternative to other electric propulsion methods. However, the resulting sensitivity of achievable performance to physical and operational parameters requires careful design and optimization for a given mission.
The hypergolic reaction between the recently developed green propellant combination consisting of an ionic liquid and highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide was investigated for several ratios of oxidizer and fuel, drop sizes and heights of fall. The influence of the catalytic copper additive on the ignition delay time (IDT) was analysed. Flame emission/absorption spectroscopy revealed the chemical constituents. All spectra were dominated by sodium D-lines at λ= 589nm. Further lines of alkali metals such as lithium and potassium were found. The copper additive showed its characteristic lines accordingly to its amount in the fuel. Emission spectra of the ultraviolet regime showed the characteristic OH* molecular lines around λ= 306nm with its temperature dependent intensity ratios (De Izarra 2000;Pellerin et al. 1996). The catalytic additive copper increases the flame temperature while it decreases the IDT from 31 ms for pure ionic liquid to 15 ms (5% mass fraction).
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