Analysis of the wave-plasma interaction in electrodeless plasma thrusters
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2024-03
Defense date
2024-04-29
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Abstract
La tesis presentada contribuye a la comprensión y el modelado numérico de propulsores de plasma sin electrodos (EPTs). Con un enfoque dual que combina herramientas prácticas de diseño y modelos de investigación fundamental, este trabajo ofrece un conjunto de herramientas versátil y completo para avanzar el estado del arte en física de plasmas de baja temperatura aplicada a propulsión eléctrica. El núcleo de la investigación lo constituyen los avances en el estudio de EPTs y tecnologías para su modelado y simulación. Estos se enfocadan principalmente en la interacción de ondas electromagnéticas y su relación con fenómenos de transporte en el plasma. El estudio comienza con un análisis detallado del modelo de plasma frío, aplicado a problemas de propagación de ondas en propulsores de plasma de clase Helicón (HPT). Cabe destacar la introducción de PWHISTLER, una herramienta de simulación de ondas que emplea el método de elementos finitos (FE). Este modelo destaca por su mayor velocidad, precisión y capacidad para simular geometrías complejas, mejorando significativamente el estudio de fenómenos electromagnéticos en plasmas magnetizados. Una serie de análisis utilizando tanto un modelo de diferencias finitas (FD) como PWHISTLER demuestran su efectividad en la caracterización de la propagación y absorción de ondas en HPTs, siendo una observación clave la absorción de potencia concentrada en la superficie de resonancia electrónica-ciclotrónica (ECR). La integración de PWHISTLER con el código de simulación para el transporte de plasma HYPHEN facilita un estudio exhaustivo de una nueva topología de campo magnético con cúspide en HPT. Las simulaciones, verificadas con datos experimentales, ofrecen conclusiones sobre las pérdidas de rendimiento y la eficiencia de empuje, destacando el papel de las corrientes de plasma a pared, la temperatura de electrones y la influencia de la topología magnética. Finalmente se presenta una nueva formulación de un algoritmo implícito de partículas en celda (PIC), diseñado específicamente para toberas magnéticas. El método PIC implícito mejora la eficiencia computacional frente a métodos bien establecidos, y constituye un avance sustancial en la simulación y optimización de toberas magnéticas para EPTs.
The presented thesis contributes to the understanding and numerical modeling of electrodeless plasma thrusters (EPTs). With an approach that combines mid-fidelity fast simulation software and fundamental research models capturing a wider range of phenomena, the study tackles the current modeling needs of the electric propulsion community and presents new insights into the physics of these devices. The understanding of the physics and the modeling of electromagnetic wave-plasma interaction phenomena is at the forefront of the research. The study starts with an in-depth analysis of the cold-plasma dielectric tensor model, tailored to understand wave propagation in Helicon Plasma Thrusters (HPT). A central development is the introduction of PWHISTLER, a full-wave simulation tool employing the finite element (FE) method. This model stands out for its improved speed, accuracy, and ability to handle complex geometries, significantly improving the modeling of electromagnetic phenomena in magnetized plasmas. Notable new features compared to previous models include the introduction of azimuthal Fourier modes and waveport boundary conditions. Detailed analyses using both a finite-difference (FD) and the above-mention model underscore their effectiveness in characterizing wave propagation and absorption in HPTs, with a key finding being the concentrated power absorption at the electron-cyclotron resonance (ECR) surface that appears in downstream plume. The integration of PWHISTLER with the HYPHEN plasma transport solver facilitates a comprehensive study of a novel cusp magnetic HPT field topology. The simulations, verified against experimental data, offer insights into performance losses and thrust efficiency, highlighting the role of plasma currents to walls, the electron temperature, and the magnetic ring cusp’s influence. Finally, the study presents the formulation of an advanced implicit particle-in-cell (PIC) algorithm, specifically designed for magnetic nozzles. This innovative approach in the Electric Propulsion (EP) field significantly enhances computational efficiency, marking a step in the simulation and optimization of magnetic nozzles for EPTs and paving the way for future studies of other EP systems.
The presented thesis contributes to the understanding and numerical modeling of electrodeless plasma thrusters (EPTs). With an approach that combines mid-fidelity fast simulation software and fundamental research models capturing a wider range of phenomena, the study tackles the current modeling needs of the electric propulsion community and presents new insights into the physics of these devices. The understanding of the physics and the modeling of electromagnetic wave-plasma interaction phenomena is at the forefront of the research. The study starts with an in-depth analysis of the cold-plasma dielectric tensor model, tailored to understand wave propagation in Helicon Plasma Thrusters (HPT). A central development is the introduction of PWHISTLER, a full-wave simulation tool employing the finite element (FE) method. This model stands out for its improved speed, accuracy, and ability to handle complex geometries, significantly improving the modeling of electromagnetic phenomena in magnetized plasmas. Notable new features compared to previous models include the introduction of azimuthal Fourier modes and waveport boundary conditions. Detailed analyses using both a finite-difference (FD) and the above-mention model underscore their effectiveness in characterizing wave propagation and absorption in HPTs, with a key finding being the concentrated power absorption at the electron-cyclotron resonance (ECR) surface that appears in downstream plume. The integration of PWHISTLER with the HYPHEN plasma transport solver facilitates a comprehensive study of a novel cusp magnetic HPT field topology. The simulations, verified against experimental data, offer insights into performance losses and thrust efficiency, highlighting the role of plasma currents to walls, the electron temperature, and the magnetic ring cusp’s influence. Finally, the study presents the formulation of an advanced implicit particle-in-cell (PIC) algorithm, specifically designed for magnetic nozzles. This innovative approach in the Electric Propulsion (EP) field significantly enhances computational efficiency, marking a step in the simulation and optimization of magnetic nozzles for EPTs and paving the way for future studies of other EP systems.
Description
Mención Internacional en el título de doctor
Keywords
Electric propulsion, Electrodeless plasma thrusters, Helicon plasma thrusters, Electron-cyclotron resonance, Plasma simulation