Type of Document Dissertation Author Kafafy, Raed URN etd-09222005-111355 Title Immersed Finite Element Particle-In-Cell Simulations of Ion Propulsion Degree PhD Department Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title Joseph Wang Committee Chair Calvin Ribbens Committee Member Joseph Schetz Committee Member Slimane Adjerid Committee Member Tao Lin Committee Member Keywords
- Electric Propulsion
- Ion Thruster
- Finite Element
- Particle-in-Cell
Date of Defense 2005-09-01 Availability unrestricted Abstract A new particle-in-cell algorithm was developed for plasma simulations involving complexboundary conditions. The new algorithm is based on the three-dimensional
immersed finite element method which is developed in this thesis, and a modified
legacy particle-in-cell code. The model also applies a new meshing technique that
separates the field solution mesh from the particle pushing mesh in order to increase
the computational eciency of the model.
The new simulation model is used in two applications of great importance to the
development of ion propulsion technology: the ion optics performance and the interaction
between spacecraft and the ion thruster. The first application is ion optics
simulations. Simulations are performed to investigate ion optics plasma flow for a
whole subscale NEXT ion optics. The operating conditions modeled cover the entire
cross-over to perveance limit range. The results of the ion optics simulations
demonstrated good agreement with the available experimental data. The second
application is ion thruster plume simulations. Simulations are performed to investigate
ion thruster plume - spacecraft interactions for the Dawn spacecraft. Plume
induced contaminations on the solar array are studied for a variety of ion thruster
configurations including multiple thruster firings.
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