抄録
In this study, a numerical calculation was performed for an electrothermal pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) using solid propellants of poly-tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The calculation simultaneously simulates unsteady phenomena of discharge, heat transfer into/inside the PTFE, ablation of PTFE and plasma flow. A calculated result showed the existence of considerable amount of ablation delaying to the discharge. However, it was also suggested that the ablation should not be regarded as late time ablation (LTA) which is generally thought as a factor of low performance. The calculated performances roughly agreed with experimental results obtained with a PPT in our laboratory. Furthermore, calculated results predicted that the performance would improve by reducing the cavity cross-sectional area to 1/4 (1.6mm2) and the cavity length to 1/2 or less (≤6mm) with a constant stored energy of 14.6J.
