A Simplified Magnetohydrodynamic Model for the Flow of a Perfectly Conducting Compressible Fluid

DEAN, RAÚL; MAGLIONE, LIVIO; BRITO, HÉCTOR; ELASKAR, SERGIO

Buenos Aires

Congreso; 2006 International Symposium on Electrohydrodynamics – 2006 ISEHD; 2006

Universidad de Buenos Aires

The study of flows in which the fluid is electrically conducting and moves in a magnetic field is known as Magnetohydrodynamics or MHD for short. A MHD model is generally based on the assumption that plasmas can be regarded as a continuum and thus may be characterized by relatively few macroscopic quantities. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive and critical view of one physical model that is used nowadays in the simulation of MHD problems in the framework of aerospace applications. Particularly, the present paper is intended to analyze equivalent non conducting compressible fluid model with 2 g= . In the case of a perfectly conducting fluid, an identification is made between the real fluid and a equivalent non conducting compressible fluid with 2. g= This physical model allows to analyze basic flows involved in certain classes of problem of engineering interest where MHD effects are important, basically for energy conversion, propulsion, etc. Particularly, this physical model is applied to the onedimensional analysis of an Ablative Magnetoplasmadynamic (AMPD) thruster and its magnetoplasmadynamic flow, in order to achieve a simplified thruster design, considering a gasdynamic flow instead of a magnetoplasmadynamic flow. This physical model contributes to the concept study of a solid propellant AMPD microthruster. As a first approach it can establish general nozzle dimensions and shape for the development of an AMPD thruster as a low cost-mass-power simple, safe and highly efficient propulsion option for nano/microsatellites orbit and/or attitude control.