Low-power microwave arcjet testing

D. Nordling, F. Souliez, M. M. Micci

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The microwave arcjet is an electro thermal propulsion device which can function at low power levels (100 Watts CW) suitable for microsatellite applications. Its electrodeless design allows it to provide steady and stable operation with negligible erosion to the device. The free-floating plasma within the resonant cavity couples the incident electrical power directly to the tangentially injected propellant gas. The plasma forms by focusing the microwave energy into the first transverse magnetic mode and operates independent of the type of propellant gas used. Two devices of this type are investigated, one operating at a frequency of 2.45 GHz and the other at 7.5 GHz. Thrust and specific impulse measurements were made with the 7.5 GHz device.

Original languageEnglish (US)
StatePublished - 1998
Event34th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, 1998 - Cleveland, United States
Duration: Jul 13 1998Jul 15 1998

Other

Other34th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, 1998
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityCleveland
Period7/13/987/15/98

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Aerospace Engineering

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