Experimental and Numerical Study on Ammonia Arcjet Thrusters

To attest finer operating performance of ammonia Arcjet Thrusters, comprehensive experimental and numerical study was performed on them. High vacuum experiment system, advanced small thrust measurement system and invariable electric current control system were set up in experimental study. Non-oscillatory and Non-free-parameters Dissipative finite difference scheme with second order accuracy was adopted to solve Navier-Stokes equations coupled with electromagnetic source terms in numerical study. Operating performance of thrusters with various structure and size under various working conditions is obtained in experimental study, and flow distributions within some thruster are presented and its thrust, specific impulse and thrust efficiency are predicted in numerical study. The outcomes show that ammonia Arcjet Thrusters are of finer operating performance and can be operated for some space missions.