Article

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Title

Alternative direction of development of rocket plasma engines based on kHz discharge in an electric and magnetic field

Authors

^1,2G.N. Churilov, ²K.A. Finnikov, ^1,2N.S. Nikolaev

Organizations

¹Kirensky Institute of Physics SB RAS, FRC KSC SB RAS
Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation
²Siberian Federal University
Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation

Abstract

The knowledge gained from a detailed study of the physics of gas discharge formed the basis for the development and manufacture of rocket plasma thrusters. The developers associated further progress in this direction, with an increase in the density of the reaction mass – plasma. However, an increase in the density of the gas in which the discharge takes place leads to the occurrence of ionization and overheating instabilities, which ultimately lead to contraction of discharge. This is the main obstacle to obtaining stable plasma flows at high pressure and the development of plasma engines on their basis. In this work, using the example of laboratory-produced plasma generator generators that solve specific national economic problems, we have shown the possibility of circumventing this problem by applying high-frequency arc discharge of alternating current. Experimental results are given for devices working at atmospheric pressure using as plasma-forming gas like argon, helium and air. There are presented results of investigation of plasmatron construction with combined magnetic and vortex stabilization. This design can be taken as a prototype of a rocket plasma engine using, for example, as propellant like air-methane and oxygen-methane mixtures.

Keywords

rocket plasma engines, plasma, alternating current, kilohertz range, plasma instabilities, arc discharges of atmospheric pressure

References

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For citing this article

Churilov G.N., Finnikov K.A., Nikolaev N.S. Alternative direction of development of rocket plasma engines based on kHz discharge in an electric and magnetic field // Spacecrafts & Technologies, 2018, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 212-219. doi: 10.26732/2618-7957-2018-4-212-219

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