Theoretical expression of magnetohydrodynamic accelerator performance with non-equilibrium plasma

The theoretical performance of a scramjet propulsion system in which magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) accelerator is operated in a nonequilibrium environment is evaluated. MHD accelerator is an inverse process of MHD power generation, which is the interesting field of study. In MHD accelerator the electric power is converted into push work on working plasma. The numerical simulation is intended to be used for performance of MHD accelerator with air-plasma as working gas. The fundamental performance of MHD accelerator with nonequilibrium plasma was evaluated using one-dimensional numerical simulation. It was confirmed after analysis that working gas was successfully accelerated by Lorentz force.