High-Thrust-High-Specific Impulse Gasdynamic Fusion Propulsion System
| Autor: | Myoung-Jae Lee, David I. Poston, Terry Kammash |
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| Rok vydání: | 1997 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Propulsion and Power. 13:421-427 |
| ISSN: | 1533-3876 0748-4658 |
| Popis: | The gasdynamic fusion propulsion system utilizes a simple mirror magnetic geometry in which a highdensity plasma is cone ned long enough to generate fusion energy while ejecting charged particles through one end to generate thrust. At high densities the collision mean free path becomes much shorter than the length, making the plasma behave much like a continuous medium, a e uid. Under these conditions the escape of the plasma is analogous to the e ow of a gas into a vacuum from a vessel with a hole. With the mirror serving as a magnetic nozzle the plasma-charged particles are ejected at very high energies, giving rise to specie c impulses of well over 200,000 s, but at modest thrusts because of the smallness of their mass. We examine methods by which the thrust of this engine can be enhanced. On the one hand we explore the use of a hydrogen propellant that is heated by the radiation emanating from the plasma, which, upon exhausting through a nozzle, generates the additional thrust. On the other hand we focus purely on changing the properties of the injected plasma to achieve the same objectives. We e nd in the case of a deuterium‐ tritium plasma that the use of hydrogen results in a degradation of the propulsive capability of the system, but we e nd it quite suitable for an engine that burns a mixture of deuterium and helium 3. The same results can be achieved by simply increasing the density of the injected plasma without encountering major adverse consequences. Because of engineering considerations, however, the use of a hydrogen propellant may prove to be inevitable if no other means are found to protect the walls of the reactor chamber against large heat loads. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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