AA 284a

Advanced Rocket Propulsion

Lecture 17
Electric Propulsion
Prepared by
Arif Karabeyoglu

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Stanford University
and
Mechanical Engineering
KOC University

Fall 2019
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AA 284a Advanced Rocket Propulsion
Electric Propulsion Fundamentals
• Chemical systems are capable of delivering very high thrust forces, but the
energy storage capability in the chemical bonds limits the maximum exhaust
velocity, thus the Isp.
• Concept has been discovered by pioneers: Tsiolkovski, Goddard, Oberth.
• First demonstrated by Vladimir Glusko, USSR
• Electric propulsion systems require large power source which limits their use.
• Commonly used in applications requiring very high Isp’s, but low thrust
densities.
– Satellite propulsion
– Interplanetary missions
• Very low thrust, heavy power supply leads to very low acceleration (10-4-10-6
g’s): influences flight strategy- spiral trajectory
• Three general kinds:
– Electrothermal: Use electric energy to thermalize the propellant (Isp limited by order
of speed of sound)
– Electrostatic: Use electric fields to accelerate ionized propellant (speed of light)
– Electromagnetic: Use electromagnetic fields to accelerate plasma propellant (speed
of light)
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Electric Propulsion – Common Types

Common Isp, Power Range, W Thrust Range, Typical

Propellants sec mN Efficiency, %
Electrothermal
Resistojet N2H2, NH3 ~300 500-1500 100-500 80
Arcjet N2H2, H2 500-2,000 300-100,000 200-2,000 35
Electrostatic
Ion Xe 3,000 50-2500 10-200 70
Hall Effect Xe 1,500-2000 1500-5000 80-200 50
Electromagnetic
Pulsed Plasma Teflon 1,000 1-200 1-100 5
MPD NH3, H2 2,000-5,000 1,000-4 106 1,000-2 106 25

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Electric Propulsion – Important Equations
• Electric Propulsion System Efficiency:
η : Efficiency
– Conversion of electric energy to kinetic energy
Pe = Elecric Power
E! k m! ve2 T ve T Isp g o T2 T : Thrust
η= = = = = m! : Pr opellant Flow Rate
Pe 2 Pe 2 Pe 2 Pe 2 m! Pe
ve : Exit Velocity
• Note that the effect of the exit pressure on the thrust force has been neglected.
This is accurate for most systems, but not all types including MPD, resistojets
• Basic Analysis: Required burn time - mission duration
T 2 Pe η
ΔV = tb T=
M ve M : Averege Mass − Spacecraft
– Combine
ve ΔV tb : Mission Time
tb =
2η (Pe M ) Δv : DeltaV of Mission
– Specific power, Pe/M, is critical to limit mission time
– This analysis is only valid if the propellant mass is a small fraction of the initial mass

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AA 284a Advanced Rocket Propulsion
Electric Propulsion – Important Equations
• Power Supply – Specific Power:

P α : Specific Power
α= e M pwr = Mass Power Plant
M pwr
• Mpwr includes the mass of the power system, propellant feed system and the
engine itself
2
Pe m! ve2 M prop ve
M pwr = = =
α 2η α 2η tb α M : Payload Massp
• With the use of rocket eqn.
M prop : Pr opellant Mass
ΔV / ve
Mi e
= M i : M p + M prop + M pwr
( )(
M p 1 + 1 − eΔV / ve ve2 2η tb α )
• Note that for a given initial mass to payload ratio there is an optimum ΔV / v e
• There is an optimum Isp for a given system/mission for electric propulsion
systems
–This is because increasing Isp increases power plant mass, but reduces propellant mass
–A balance which does not exist in a chemical rocket

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Electrothermal Systems
• Resistojet:
– Resistively heat the propellant using a heat
exchanger
– Simple, but low performance system
– Performance limited by the melting temperature of
of the heat exchanger.
– Isp better than monoprops and cold gas thrusters
– Mature technology

• Arcjet:
– Arc discharge heats the propellant
– Arc is generated by
• Low DC voltage high current
• High frequency high voltage
– Local heating and thermal losses limit efficiency
– Electron life limits life to about 1,500 hours
– Mature technology

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Electrostatic Systems ! ! ! !
• Ion Engine:
F = e E + e ve × B Coulomb force
– Propellant is ionized
• Electron bombardment
• Radiofrequency excitation
– Accelerated using high electrostatic potential
(~1,000V)
– Low density ion field (not a plasma)
– Plume is neutralized to prevent charge built up
– High power requirement limits usage
– Mature technology
• Hall Effect Thruster
– Gridless electrostatic propulsion system
– External hallow cathode ring shaped anode: ~300 V
– Magnetic field spirals electrons ionizing the gas
– Ions are accelerated by the electric potential
– First developed and extensively used by Russians
– Currently being used extensively in the Western world
– Optimum Isp in1,500 s, low voltage and moderate power consumption makes this a very
attractive option.
– New Application: Orbit raising for GeoSats
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Electrostatic Systems – General Scaling
1/ 2 1/ 2
⎛ 2 qV ⎞ 1 ⎛ 2 qV ⎞
• Ion velocity and Isp: ve = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ Isp = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ mion : Ion Mass
⎝ mion ⎠ g o ⎝ mion ⎠
m q : Ion Ch arg e
• Current mass flow rate relationship: m! = J ion
q J : Current
1/ 2
⎛ 2 mion V ⎞
• Thrust relationship T = m! ve = J ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ q ⎠

• Propellant selection T ∝ mion q Isp ∝ q mion

• In order to maximize thrust, one must use large MW and low ionic charge
1/ 2
ΔV ⎛V q ⎞
• The mission duration can be estimated to be tb = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
• Note that Pe=V J+ power for ionization
(Pe M )η ⎝ 2 mion ⎠
• Reducing mission duration requires:
– Low values for voltage and ion charge to mass ratio
– High efficiency and specific power

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AA 284a Advanced Rocket Propulsion
! ! !
Electromagnetic Systems F = e E + e v! × B Lorentz force
e
• Pulse Plasma Thruster:
– Very simple system
– Solid propellant is formed into a plasma by
electric discharge
– Plasma is accelerated using electromagnetic
field
– Very low efficiency
– Pulsed mode operation

• Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD):
– Large current discharge applied between the two
electrodes ionizes the gas
– Self Induced MPD: Magnetic field is self induced
by the current
– Applied field MPD: Magnetic field externally applied
– The plasma is accelerated by the Lorentz force
– Large thrust force possible – requires very large
power levels, high Isp feasible
– Cathode erosion is an issue
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Electric Propulsion Systems – Overall Performance

Ref: “Sutton, “Rocket Propulsion Elements”

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