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Plasma Propulsion

Plasma Propulsion. Derek Kerley Josh Clanton ELEC 6750. Outline. Terms Questions Current Technology Evolution of Plasma Propulsion Ion Thrusters EPPP VASIMR LAPPS M2P2 Conclusions Question Answers. Questions. What is the main limitation on traditional chemical rocket propulsion?

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Plasma Propulsion

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  1. Plasma Propulsion Derek Kerley Josh Clanton ELEC 6750

  2. Outline • Terms • Questions • Current Technology • Evolution of Plasma Propulsion • Ion Thrusters • EPPP • VASIMR • LAPPS • M2P2 • Conclusions • Question Answers

  3. Questions • What is the main limitation on traditional chemical rocket propulsion? • What does VASIMR and M2P2 stand for?

  4. Applications • Space Travel and exploration • Satellites • Main Propulsion system on deep space mission

  5. Terms • Thrust – how much force an engine can push with. • Specific Impulse – the number of seconds a rocket engine can produce one pound of thrust from one pound of fuel. • Exhaust Velocity – Velocity of propellant as it leaves the space craft. “The SpaceSite.com” http://www.thespacesite.com/space/future/electric.php

  6. Chemical Rockets • Large amount of fuel – low specific impulse • Rocket fuel – low exhaust velocity • Chemical Propellant – majority of spacecraft payload • Problem for spacecraft & satellites Lerner, Eric J. “Plasma Propulsion in Space.” The Industrial Physicist. October 2000. 16 – 19. American Institute of Physics. 25 Jan 2004 <http://www.aip.org/tip/INPHFA/vol-6/iss-5/p16.pdf>.

  7. Chemical Rockets • Outer rim of solar system – 140 AU from Earth • Voyager – Launched in 1977 • Now only 70 AU from Earth Robert Winglee, “Mini-Magnetoshperic Plasma Propulsion (M2P2): High Speed Propulsion Sailing the Solar Wind,” in Space Technology and Applications International Forum – 2000, El-Genk, Ed. American Institute of Physics, 2000, CP504.

  8. Evolution of Plasma Propulsion • 1980’s – Resistojets, Arcjets Resistojets – resistive coils to heat propellant Arcjets – high current to heat propellant Electrodes exposed to high temperature – short life spans • Mid 1990’s – Ion Propulsion • Downstream Grid to accelerate ions Lerner, Eric J. “Plasma Propulsion in Space.” The Industrial Physicist. October 2000. 16 – 19. American Institute of Physics. 25 Jan 2004 <http://www.aip.org/tip/INPHFA/vol-6/iss-5/p16.pdf>.

  9. Evolution of Plasma Propulsion • 1960’s, 1990’s – Hall Effect Thrusters • Neutral Plasma • Combination of E and B Fields • B field created perpindicular to E field along axis of conductor • Hall Effect traps electrons • Ions accelerated along directional axis Lerner, Eric J. “Plasma Propulsion in Space.” The Industrial Physicist. October 2000. 16 – 19. American Institute of Physics. 25 Jan 2004 <http://www.aip.org/tip/INPHFA/vol-6/iss-5/p16.pdf>.

  10. Evolution of Plasma Propulsion • MPD Thrusters • Coaxial Form • Continuous Arc between cathode and anode • B field accelerates plasma Lerner, Eric J. “Plasma Propulsion in Space.” The Industrial Physicist. October 2000. 16 – 19. American Institute of Physics. 25 Jan 2004 <http://www.aip.org/tip/INPHFA/vol-6/iss-5/p16.pdf>.

  11. Current Methods of Plasma Propulsion • Ion Thrusters • External Pulsed Plasma Propuslion Rockets • VASIMR(Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket) • LAPPS – Laser Accelerated Plasma Propulsion System • M2P2 – Mini-Magnetoshperic Plasma Propulsion

  12. Ion Thrusters • Propellant – Xenon • Ionized in a cylindrical chamber and accelerated through charged grids at rear of rocket. • Velocity – 31.5 km/s “The SpaceSite.com” http://www.thespacesite.com/space/future/electric.php

  13. Ion Thrusters • Desired Propellant – low ionization level, high atomic weight, handling, and storage properties • Mercury • successfully used in two flight experiments • Replaced because of environmental concerns regarding mercury handling • Xenon – simplified spacecraft integration Advanced Propulsion Concepts” Advanced Propulsion Technology Group, California Institute of Technology <http://www.islandone.org/APC/>.

  14. External Pulsed Plasma Propulsion • Ejection of small fission-driven pulse units (atom bombs) out the rear of the rocket. • Shock absorbers • Orion – 1958-1965 • Terminated because of 1963 Test Ban Treaty Bonometti, J. A., Morton, P. J., and Schmidt, G. R. “External Pulsed Plasma Propulsion and its Potential for the Near Future” AIP Conference Proceedings 504 (2000): 1236-42.

  15. External Pulsed Plasma Propulsion • Asteroid and Comet deflection - Collision capable of significant damage is very unlikely • Attach sails or electric thrusters to alter course • Unpredictable conditions (body’s size, speed, and trajectory) • Risky Bonometti, J. A., Morton, P. J., and Schmidt, G. R. “External Pulsed Plasma Propulsion and its Potential for the Near Future” AIP Conference Proceedings 504 (2000): 1236-42.

  16. External Pulsed Plasma Propulsion • Use same EPPP system to nudge comet/asteroid off its path toward earth Bonometti, J. A., Morton, P. J., and Schmidt, G. R. “External Pulsed Plasma Propulsion and its Potential for the Near Future” AIP Conference Proceedings 504 (2000): 1236-42.

  17. VASIMR • Adjust between high thrust and high specific impulse • CPT (constant power throttling) – constantly tunes rocket to conditions of the flight. • Same role as an automobile transmission Diaz, F.R. Chang “The VASIMR Rocket” Scientific American 283 (2000): 90-97.

  18. VASIMR • 3 stages • 1st – ionizes propellant gas through helicon waves (oscillations at frequencies of 10-50MHz) • 2nd – uses ICRH (ion resonance cyclotron heating) to energize perpendicular motion of particles • 3rd – transforms energy from perpendicular motion to parallel motion Diaz, F.R. Chang “The VASIMR Rocket” Scientific American 283 (2000): 90-97.

  19. 3 stages of VASIMR Diaz, F.R. Chang “An Overview of the VASIMR Engine: High Power Space Propulsion with RF Plasma Generation and Heating” AIP Conference Proceedings 595 (2001): 3-15.

  20. VASIMR • Partitioning the Power • More thrust – more power to 1st stage • More ions • Higher Specific Impulse – more power to 2nd stage • Higher energy state for ions Diaz, F.R. Chang “The VASIMR Rocket” Scientific American 283 (2000): 90-97.

  21. LAPPS • Laser Accelerated Plasma Propulsion System • Short pulse length laser • Accelerates charged particles • 87% of c (speed of light) • Isp = 10 million seconds Terry Kammash, “A Nuclear Powered Laser-Accelerated Plasma Propulsion System,” in Space Technology and Applications International Forum – STAIF 2003, El-Genk, Ed. American Institute of Physics, 2003, CP654.

  22. LAPPS • Isp = 3.2 x 106 • Thrust = 3.1 x 10-2 • Long travel time • Improvements • Increase number of particles • Increase pulse frequency of the laser Terry Kammash, “A Nuclear Powered Laser-Accelerated Plasma Propulsion System,” in Space Technology and Applications International Forum – STAIF 2003, El-Genk, Ed. American Institute of Physics, 2003, CP654.

  23. M2P2 • Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion • Idea: ride the “solar wind” – particles moving at supersonic speeds through space, 300-800 km/s • Large magnetic bubble deflects solar wind particles • Force accelerates space craft Robert Winglee, “Mini-Magnetoshperic Plasma Propulsion (M2P2): High Speed Propulsion Sailing the Solar Wind,” in Space Technology and Applications International Forum – 2000, El-Genk, Ed. American Institute of Physics, 2000, CP504.

  24. M2P2 • Magnetic Field – solenoid coil, drops off quickly • Injected plasma extends field outward Robert Winglee, “Mini-Magnetoshperic Plasma Propulsion (M2P2): High Speed Propulsion Sailing the Solar Wind,” in Space Technology and Applications International Forum – 2000, El-Genk, Ed. American Institute of Physics, 2000, CP504.

  25. M2P2 Prototype • University of Washington R. M. Winglee, “Laboratory Testing of the Mini-Magnetoshperic Plasma Propulsion (M2P2) Prototype,” in Space Technology and Applications International Forum –2001, El-Genck, Ed. American Institue of Physics, 2001, CP552.

  26. Prototype Testing R. M. Winglee, “Magnetic Inflation by the Mini-Magnetoshperic Plasma Propulsion (M2P2) Prototype,”in Space Technology and Applications International Forum – STAIF 2002, El-Genck, Ed. American Institue of Physics, 2002, CP654.

  27. Conclusions • Deep space travel not possible with traditional chemical rockets • Plasma propulsion methods seem promising for future deep space travel • Can be used on manned craft as well as satellites • Several methods are undergoing research & testing

  28. Question Answers • What is the main limitation on traditional chemical rocket propulsion? fuel-to-payload ratio • What does VASIMR and M2P2 stand for? VASIMR – Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket M2P2 – Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion

  29. Review • Terms • Questions • Current Technology • Evolution of Plasma Propulsion • Ion Thrusters • EPPP • VASIMR • LAPPS • M2P2 • Conclusions • Question Answers

  30. Questions?

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