Optimizing the effect of electrode angle on the performance of pulsed plasma thruster

Abstract

This master thesis focuses on the development of a pulsed plasma thruster (PPT in short) using an electrode with the variation of electrode angles and asymmetric angles Four different electrode angles and asymmetric configurations set-ups were selected and examined and it concludes the influence on the performance and reliability of the thruster Compared to the conventional chemical propulsion systems electric propulsion uses expelling plasma with high speed Primarily the electric thrust is generated by high exhaust velocities of ions in the plasma flow Pulsed Plasma Thruster is one of the oldest propulsion technologies still used in the space industries Their features relevant to the simplicity and low cost make them very attractive for the electric propulsion development of miniature satellites In addition PPTs have drawn increasing attention for young start-up space companies and universities to get involved in the prevailing space industries The PPT-relevant researches had been undertaken in the facets of the design manufacturing and demonstration of the PPT for Cube satellites in years The original design of the PPT had been made previously and then the future improvement can be implemented to the thruster with detachable and replaceable parts An unresolved phenomenon has been observed and elucidated by employing the high-speed camera and hypothetical solutions have been addressed In addition the Taguchi method was employed to scrutinize the effect of the design parameter on the performance and reliability of the thruster

Date of Award	2020
Original language	English
Supervisor	Yueh-Heng Li (Supervisor)