Numerical analysis of MHD accelerator using nonequilibrium air plasma for space propulsion

Numerical analyses of Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) accelerator using nonequilibrium air plasma are outlined in this paper. Composition of simulated air plasma consists of seven species, N
₂
, N, O
₂
, O, NO, NO
⁺
and e
^-
. The Magnetohydrodynamic Augmented Propulsion Experiment (MAPX) channel designed by NASA is used in this simulation. The MacCormack scheme is used to solve the set of differential equations of MHD approximations. Characteristics of nonequilibrium air plasma as a working gas are shown. Numerical results show the fundamental characteristic and propulsion performance of MHD accelerator using diagonal electrode connection with constant diagonal angle setting 55°.