TY - JOUR
T1 - Application and development of the pulsed plasma thruster
AU - Wu, Zhiwen
AU - Huang, Tiankun
AU - Liu, Xiangyang
AU - Ling, William Yeong Liang
AU - Wang, Ningfei
AU - Ji, Lucheng
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences and IOP Publishing.
PY - 2020/9
Y1 - 2020/9
N2 - The application and development of pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs) in recent years are reviewed in this paper. The advantages of PPTs are discussed. The schematics, propulsion performance parameters and key physical processes of PPTs are described. Some representative PPT products and flight systems developed in recent years are presented to show the performance of the PPT. Studies about how electrode structures, discharge circuits, propellant materials, energy discharge method, propellant feed method, ignition method and number of thruster heads influence the PPT performance are presented and analyzed. The ignitor design method, ignition process and propellant carbonization are introduced to discuss the reliability and lifetime issues in PPTs. The modeling methods of the discharge circuit, as well as ablation, ionization and acceleration in PPTs are presented. Finally, the application of PPTs in the future is analyzed and some suggestions for PPT development are proposed.
AB - The application and development of pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs) in recent years are reviewed in this paper. The advantages of PPTs are discussed. The schematics, propulsion performance parameters and key physical processes of PPTs are described. Some representative PPT products and flight systems developed in recent years are presented to show the performance of the PPT. Studies about how electrode structures, discharge circuits, propellant materials, energy discharge method, propellant feed method, ignition method and number of thruster heads influence the PPT performance are presented and analyzed. The ignitor design method, ignition process and propellant carbonization are introduced to discuss the reliability and lifetime issues in PPTs. The modeling methods of the discharge circuit, as well as ablation, ionization and acceleration in PPTs are presented. Finally, the application of PPTs in the future is analyzed and some suggestions for PPT development are proposed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85091942083&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1088/2058-6272/aba7ac
DO - 10.1088/2058-6272/aba7ac
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85091942083
SN - 1009-0630
VL - 22
JO - Plasma Science and Technology
JF - Plasma Science and Technology
IS - 9
M1 - 094014
ER -