An Electromagnetic Field Analysis of Two-Dimensional Mpd Arcjet Thrusters Using the Boundary Element Method

MPD (magnetoplasmadynamic) arcjet thruster is one of the electric propulsion systems. This paper presents the numerical simulation of the electromagnetic field of two-dimensional MPD arcjet thrusters, using the boundary element method (BEM) with the simple iteration scheme. In the analysis, the governing equations of MPD phenomena can be reduced to the induction equation with a convective diffusion term. We solve this equation to obtain the magnetic fields and the distribution of the current density and the Lorentz force for the model (flared type and straight type) of the MPD thruster using BEM. The conclusions are summarized as follows. (1) With increase in flow velocity, current channels are extended to the downstream region and the current gradually concentrates on the cathode tip. (2) The current concentration on the cathode tip is clearer in the straight type than in the flared type. (3) The Lorentz force distribution clearly changes with increase of the flow velocity in the straight type though the distribution does not depend on the velocity in the flared type.