Numerical Investigation of Supersonic MPD Viscous Flows with Ionization

Abstract

An implicit time-marching method based on the LU-SGS scheme developed for self-field magneto-plasma dynamic (MPD) fully-ionized viscous flows is extended to the method for self-field MPD viscous flows considering a finite rate of ionization. The axisymmetric compressible Navier-Stokes equations with Lorentz force and Joule heating, the equation of magnetic induction induced from Maxwell's equations with Ohm's law, and the continuity equation of electron are simultaneously solved using the present time-marching method. Partially ionized flows in an experimental MPD thruster are simulated and compared with the experiments. Also the effect of flow conditions such as the inlet temperature, the total current, and the rate of ionization to the flow field is numerically investigated.