Abstract:
Three dimensional computational model and numerical simulation results for plasma plume of pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) interaction with ambient flow of magnetized plasma. Unsteady expansion of plasma plume generated by PPT during 100 microseconds is analyzed. Duration of the PPT plasma impulse is 6 microseconds. Parameters of the plasma plume in exit cross-section of the plasma thruster simulate performance characteristics of PPT-4 [3], which uses solid Teflon as fuel. Presented magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) model is based on ideal magnetohydrodynamics and allows predict dynamics of plasma plume after end of plasma impulse and its interaction with ambient ionized and magnetized media.
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