A Low Power Pulsed Arcjet Thruster for Spacecraft Propulsion
Willmes, Gary Francis
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/85128
Description
Title
A Low Power Pulsed Arcjet Thruster for Spacecraft Propulsion
Author(s)
Willmes, Gary Francis
Issue Date
1997
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Burton, Rodney L.
Department of Study
Aerospace Engineering
Discipline
Aerospace Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Physics, Fluid and Plasma
Language
eng
Abstract
A pulse-forming electrical circuit is developed to reduce energy losses in the storage capacitor, and greater than 85% of the initial stored energy is transferred to the arc in a unipolar pulse. A high current diode installed across the capacitor terminals is used to eliminate voltage reversals in the current. The experimental breakdown voltage of the helium gas between the electrodes is found to follow a Paschen relationship where the minimum electrode separation distance is used in evaluating the data.
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