Numerical simulation of MGD flows for plasma propulsion

ELASKAR, SERGIO; MAGLIONE, LIVIO; FALCINELLI, OSCAR; BRITO, HÉCTOR; TAMAGNO, JOSÉ

Valencia, España

Congreso; 57st IAF International Astronautical Congress; 2006

International Astronautical Federation

At the present, in Argentina, it is being developed a Pulsed Plasma Thruster (PPT). With the objective of improving the PPT design we are working to simulate the plasma flow inside of the thruster. Two numerical codes are developing; the first software solves 2D, time-dependent, viscous and resistive MGD flows using structured meshes. The second software solves 3D, time-dependent, Euler equations, using non-structured meshes. Both codes use finite volumes method; for computing of the hyperbolic fluxes, an approximated Riemann solver together with a Harten-Yee TVD scheme is utilized. For the diffusive contributions a second order finite difference scheme is employed. A new algorithm for artificial viscosity reduction is presented. Finally, numerical results obtained using both software are presented. These results are in agreement with those reported by other authors.