Numerical analysis of MHD accelerator using nonequilibrium air plasma for space propulsion

Numerical analyses of Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) accelerator using nonequilibrium air plasma are outlined in this paper. Composition of simulated air plasma consists of seven species, N₂, N, O₂, O, NO, NO⁺ and e^-. The Magnetohydrodynamic Augmented Propulsion Experiment (MAPX) channel designed by NASA is used in this simulation. The MacCormack scheme is used to solve the set of differential equations of MHD approximations. Characteristics of nonequilibrium air plasma as a working gas are shown. Numerical results show the fundamental characteristic and propulsion performance of MHD accelerator using diagonal electrode connection with constant diagonal angle setting 55°.

I. Introduction

MHD has been identified as one of technology that is capable of producing hypervelocity, high flight dynamic pressure, and clean-air wind tunnel simulations for development of air-breathing propulsion systems. The acceleration forces of MHD is mostly produced by Lorentz forces (j x B) which attained by interaction of electric field and magnetic field [1]. The most viable engine in this application is the MHD bypass scramjet engine [2]–[4].