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Numerical thermal model of NASA solar electric propulsion technology application readiness ion thruster

Publication ,  Journal Article
Van Noord, J; Gallimore, A; Rawlin, VK
Published in: Journal of Propulsion and Power
January 1, 2000

A thermal computer model of the 30-cm NASA solar electric propulsion technology application readiness (NSTAR) xenon ion thruster has been produced using a lumped-parameter thermal nodal-network scheme. This model contains 104 nodes on the thruster and was implemented using SINDA and TRASYS on various UNIX workstations. The model includes the radiation and conduction heat transfer, the effect of plasma interaction on the thruster, and an account for finely perforated surfaces. The model was developed in conjunction with an NSTAR thruster outfitted with approximately 20 thermocouples for thermal testing at the John H. Glenn Research Center. The results of these experiments were used to calibrate and confirm the computer model first without and then with the plasma interaction. The calibrated model was able to predict discharge chamber temperatures to within 10°C of measured temperatures. To demonstrate the ability of the model under various circumstances, the heat flux was examined for a thruster operating in a deep-space environment.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Propulsion and Power

DOI

ISSN

0748-4658

Publication Date

January 1, 2000

Volume

16

Issue

2

Start / End Page

357 / 364

Related Subject Headings

  • Aerospace & Aeronautics
  • 4001 Aerospace engineering
  • 0913 Mechanical Engineering
  • 0901 Aerospace Engineering
  • 0202 Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics
 

Citation

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Van Noord, J., Gallimore, A., & Rawlin, V. K. (2000). Numerical thermal model of NASA solar electric propulsion technology application readiness ion thruster. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 16(2), 357–364. https://doi.org/10.2514/2.5577
Van Noord, J., A. Gallimore, and V. K. Rawlin. “Numerical thermal model of NASA solar electric propulsion technology application readiness ion thruster.” Journal of Propulsion and Power 16, no. 2 (January 1, 2000): 357–64. https://doi.org/10.2514/2.5577.
Van Noord J, Gallimore A, Rawlin VK. Numerical thermal model of NASA solar electric propulsion technology application readiness ion thruster. Journal of Propulsion and Power. 2000 Jan 1;16(2):357–64.
Van Noord, J., et al. “Numerical thermal model of NASA solar electric propulsion technology application readiness ion thruster.” Journal of Propulsion and Power, vol. 16, no. 2, Jan. 2000, pp. 357–64. Scopus, doi:10.2514/2.5577.
Van Noord J, Gallimore A, Rawlin VK. Numerical thermal model of NASA solar electric propulsion technology application readiness ion thruster. Journal of Propulsion and Power. 2000 Jan 1;16(2):357–364.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Propulsion and Power

DOI

ISSN

0748-4658

Publication Date

January 1, 2000

Volume

16

Issue

2

Start / End Page

357 / 364

Related Subject Headings

  • Aerospace & Aeronautics
  • 4001 Aerospace engineering
  • 0913 Mechanical Engineering
  • 0901 Aerospace Engineering
  • 0202 Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics