9-13 July 2012
Africa/Johannesburg timezone
<a href="http://events.saip.org.za/internalPage.py?pageId=11&confId=14"><font color=#ff0000>SAIP2012 PROCEEDINGS AVAILABLE</font></a>

Rarefied Gas Ejection as a Thrust Mechanism for Miniature Electric Space Propulsion Systems

10 Jul 2012, 17:30
2h
IT Building

IT Building

Poster Presentation Track F - Applied Physics Poster Session

Speaker

Mr Marinus Krommenhoek (WITS Physics Msc Student)

Level for award<br>&nbsp;(Hons, MSc, <br> &nbsp; PhD)?

MSc

Abstract content <br> &nbsp; (Max 300 words)

We aim to model the physical mechanisms responsible for the observed thrust of a miniature electric propulsion system to be used in space applications. The thruster operates by ejecting gas through a small orifice at high electrical potential, where corona ionisation is responsible for ionisation of neutrals and subsequent acceleration of the created ions. In this context, we consider the emission of a rarefied gas from a circular orifice into vacuum which may impinge on a flat plate surface parallel to the orifice's plane some distance away from it. Such a model can provide important parameters used for a systematic description of the thrust mechanism, such as a density and temperature profile of the plume, and will facilitate a computational simulation.

Apply to be<br> consider for a student <br> &nbsp; award (Yes / No)?

yes

Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?

no

Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution

Dr Phil Ferrer, Philippe.Ferrer@wits.ac.za, University of Witwatersrand

Primary author

Mr Marinus Krommenhoek (WITS Physics Msc Student)

Presentation Materials

There are no materials yet.