Dependence of hydrogen arcjet operation on electrode geometryThe dependence of 2 kW hydrogen arcjet performance on cathode to anode electrode spacing was evaluated at specific impulses of 900 and 1000 s. Less than 2 absolute percent change in efficiency was measured for the spacings tested which did not repeat the 14 absolute percent variation reported in earlier work with similar electrode designs. A different nozzle configuration was used to quantify the variation in hydrogen arcjet performance over an extended range of electrode spacing. Electrode gap variation resulted in less than 3 absolute percent change in efficiency. These null results suggested that electrode spacing is decoupled from hydrogen arcjet performance considerations over the ranges tested. Initial studies were conducted on hydrogen arcjet ignition. The dependence of breakdown voltage on mass flow rate and hydrogen arcjet ignition on rates of pulse repetition and pulse voltage rise were also included for comparison with previous results obtained using simulated hydrazine.
Document ID
19920024869
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Pencil, Eric J. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Sankovic, John M. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Sarmiento, Charles J. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Hamley, John A. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1992
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.15:105855AIAA PAPER 92-3530E-7311NASA-TM-105855