Spacecraft Electric Propulsion
AAE53400
Credit Hours:
3Learning Objective:
- Demonstrate fundamental understanding of concepts and acceleration mechanisms utilized in electric propulsion systems (electrothermal, electrostatic, electromagnetic)
- Perform analysis of electrothermal accelerator at a given frozen flow fraction
- Perform analysis of ion acceleration in space-charge limited electrostatic accelerators
- Perform basic analysis of plasma acceleration in crossed-field electromagnetic thruster
- Identify optimal electric propulsion system based on specific mission requirements
Description:
Spacecraft electric propulsion systems are intended to provide thrust for propelling spacecrafts in interplanetary missions, orbital maneuvers and attitude control. The course will start with reviewing material on mechanics and thermodynamics of propulsion, and identifying the niche occupied by the electric propulsion systems. The course will cover elements of plasma physics and electromagnetic theory essential for studying the electric propulsion systems. The core of the course will focus on studying various electric propulsion concepts which utilize electric power to generate thrust. Mechanisms of the utilization of the electric power to accelerate gas or plasma and produce thrust will be considered, including electrothermal, electrostatic, electromagnetic, and gasdynamic acceleration mechanisms.
Topics Covered:
| # | Topics Covered | Duration/Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Review of space propulsion and mission requirements. Electric propulsion. |
1 week; Jahn Ch. 1 |
| 2 |
Fundamentals of electrodynamics. Maxwell equations in vacuum and matter |
2 weeks; Jahn Ch. 2 |
| 3 |
Elementary processes in plasmas. Thermal and non-thermal plasmas. Saha equation. Types of discharges: glow, arc, corona. Isotropic and magnetoactive plasmas. Particle motion in magnetic field. Ohm's law. |
2 weeks; Raizer Ch. 2-4, 8, 10, 12 & Jahn Ch 3-5 |
| 4 |
Electrothermal acceleration: 1-D model and frozen flow losses. Resistojet thrusters. Arcjet thrusters. |
2.5 weeks; Jahn Ch. 6 |
| 5 |
Electrostatic acceleration: Ion thruster. Electron neutralization. Electrospray thrusters. |
2 weeks; Jahn Ch. 7 |
| 6 |
Electromagnetic acceleration: 1D cross-field accelerator. Hall thruster. Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster. Pulsed Plasma Thruster (PPT) |
3 weeks; Jahn Ch. 8, 9 |
| 7 |
Gasdynamic acceleration: Vacuum arc fundamentals. Vacuum arc thruster. |
1 week; Raizer Ch. 10 |
| 8 |
Electric power generation and storage for propulsion systems. Review of the advanced electric propulsion concepts. |
1 week; Jahn Ch. 9 & Appendix |
Prerequisites:
AAE334 or equivalent; PHYS 241 or equivalent; permission of instructor. Passing an undergraduate level electricity and magnetism course is a requirement, although fundamentals of the electromagnetic theory will be reviewed during the course.
Homework:
Homework will be assigned once a week on Thursdays (with a few exceptions) and will be due one week later. Any homework assignments turned in after 1:00pm on the due date will not be accepted. Homework assignments will be turned in electronically in Brightspace (under Course Tools -> Assignments)
Exams:
Midterm Exam (take-home)
Final Exam
Textbooks:
R.G. Jahn, Physics of Electric Propulsion New York: McGraw-Hill, 1968
Additional Reading:
- Y.P. Raizer, Gas Discharge Physics Springer, Berlin, 1991
- P. Hill and C. Peterson Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion/ 2nd ed., Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1992
- G.P. Sutton and O. Biblarz, Rocket Propulsion Elements/7th ed., John Wiley & Sons, 2001
- D.M. Goebel and I. Katz, Fundamentals of Electric Propulsion: Ion and Hall Thrusters, John Wiley & Sons, 2008
- R.W. Humble, G.N. Henry and W.J. Larson, Space Propulsion Analysis and Design, McGraw-Hill Inc, 1995
- R.G. Jahn, E.Y. Choueiri, "Electric Propulsion", Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology, third edition, vol. 5. New York: Academic Press, 2002
- F.F. Chen, Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 2nd ed., Plenum Press, 1985
- J.D. Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics/3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons, 1999
- A special issue of the Journal of Propulsion and Power Vol. 14, No. 5, 1998