Application and development of the pulsed plasma thruster

Zhiwen WU (武志文); Tiankun HUANG (黄天坤); Xiangyang LIU (刘向阳); William Yeong Liang LING (林永樑); Ningfei WANG (王宁飞); Lucheng JI (季路成)

doi:10.1088/2058-6272/aba7ac

Plasma Science and Technology > 2020 > 22(9): 94014-094014. > DOI: 10.1088/2058-6272/aba7ac

Zhiwen WU (武志文), Tiankun HUANG (黄天坤), Xiangyang LIU (刘向阳), William Yeong Liang LING (林永樑), Ningfei WANG (王宁飞), Lucheng JI (季路成). Application and development of the pulsed plasma thruster[J]. Plasma Science and Technology, 2020, 22(9): 94014-094014. DOI: 10.1088/2058-6272/aba7ac

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Application and development of the pulsed plasma thruster

School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China

Funds: This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 11672039).

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Received Date: January 09, 2020
Revised Date: July 15, 2020
Accepted Date: July 19, 2020

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Abstract

Abstract

The application and development of pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs) in recent years are reviewed in this paper. The advantages of PPTs are discussed. The schematics, propulsion performance parameters and key physical processes of PPTs are described. Some representative PPT products and flight systems developed in recent years are presented to show the performance of the PPT. Studies about how electrode structures, discharge circuits, propellant materials, energy discharge method, propellant feed method, ignition method and number of thruster heads influence the PPT performance are presented and analyzed. The ignitor design method, ignition process and propellant carbonization are introduced to discuss the reliability and lifetime issues in PPTs. The modeling methods of the discharge circuit, as well as ablation, ionization and acceleration in PPTs are presented. Finally, the application of PPTs in the future is analyzed and some suggestions for PPT development are proposed.
- pulsed plasma thruster,
- performance,
- modeling,
- design,
- propellant material

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References

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Application and development of the pulsed plasma thruster