圆柱谐振腔微波等离子推力器的理论计算

采用耦合求解Maxwell方程、Navier Stokes方程和Saha方程的方法,完成了圆柱谐振腔微波等离子推力器(MPT)的理论计算研究。研究结果表明,MPT稳态高效工作的前提是耦合进入谐振腔内的微波功率与工质气体流量(或腔内压强)应合理匹配,并通过1kWMPT的地面与真空实验,初步验证了理论研究结果。理论与实验研究表明,圆柱形MPT原理可行,研制出的样机实验系统启动可靠、工作稳定。

Theoretical computation for microwave plasma thruster with cylindrical resonant cavity

Microwave Plasma Thruster (MPT) consists of microwave generator,gas storing and supplying system,resonant cavity and accelerative nozzle. Its principle is to generate free-floating plasma brought by microwave discharge breakdown gas in resonant cavity and the plasma exhausted from nozzle to produce thrust.Theoretical computational for MPT with cylindrical resonant cavity was analyzed using a coupled Maxwell,Saha and Navier-Stokes solver. Results show that there is a good matching between the microwave power and the gas flux (or the pressure in cavity) when the MPT work steadily with high efficiency. Meanwhile,the theoretical analysis has been validated primarily by the experiment of MPT on the ground and vacuum condition. The experimental and theoretical results show that the principle of MPT is feasible and the experimental system of MPT works well.