Universidad de Costa Rica

Resumen:

An axisymmetric 2D self-consistent electrohydrodynamic (EHD) thruster model is presented. In order to emulate air we considered a set of electron-impact reactions along with chemical and surface reactions for a total of 12 species and 26 reactions. The geometry of the thruster consists of a pin anode and a hollow funnel-like cathode to facilitate the flow of neutrals along the cathode interior. The ions tend to neutralize into their ground state upon contact with the electrodes and the simulation border. Additionally, when ions impact the cathode, a secondary electron emission occurs helping sustain the discharge. We found the concentration of each ion along the axis of symmetry to understand their role in the discharge.

© 2020 Escuela de Ingeniería Eléctrica, Universidad de Costa Rica.