Numerical simulation for the flow fields within microwave plasma thruster nozzle

To realize the mechanism and characteristic of the flow within Microwave Plasma Thruster (MPT) nozzle, numerical simulation and analysis were achieved by developing both frozen and non-equilibrium flow models for it. The factors of decomposition, ionization and composition, which affected the flow, were taken into account in non-equilibrium flow model. Four-ingredient and four-step finite-rate chemical reaction model was adopted in the chemical kinetics model. Non-oscillatory and Non-free-parameters Dissipative finite difference scheme with two order accuracy was used to solve Navier-Stokes equations numerically. The results of numerical simulation display the flow distribution, decomposition and ionization within the nozzle, and predict the thrust and specific impulse of the thruster. Analyses of the results demonstrate that the numerical method is effective, the results are reasonable, and the conclusions are helpful to the work concerned.