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AE Dissertation Defense: Development and Application of Multidimensional Computational Models for Hall Thrusters

Aerospace Engineering PhD Candidate: Horatiu C. Dragnea, Dissertation Chair: Prof. Iain D. Boyd
Thursday, August 2, 2018
1:00-2:30 PM
1044 McDivitt Conference Room Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Building Map
AE Dissertation Defense: Development and Application of Multidimensional Computational Models for Hall Thrusters

Horatiu C. Dragnea
Aerospace Engineering PhD Candidate

Prof. Iain D. Boyd
Dissertation Chair

This work is focused on improving the state-of-the-art in the field of Hall thruster numerical simulation, as well as investigating several physical processes that are important to Hall thruster development and application. Since Hall thrusters have been in use for more than half a century, they have built a reputation of reliability, however they are known for low power operation with primary applications such as station- keeping and orbit raising. Within the past decade there has been a significant effort to increase the power levels for these electric propulsion devices, but when considering such recent developments, several problems become apparent.

First, propellant cost, which is addressed through a study of an alternative and less expensive option to the ubiquitous xenon gas: krypton. Next, the problem of discharge channel erosion is investigated by simulating an optical experimental diagnostic: cavity-ring-down spectroscopy. Further, two approaches are used to analyze a nested Hall thruster: both a neutral simulation of dual channel operation and a plasma simulation of the thruster running in single channel mode. It is determined that improved modeling capabilities are required, therefore a new Cartesian 2D axisymmetric electron fluid model is developed, verified and then integrated within an existing, state-of-the-art, hybrid particle-in-cell framework.

Dissertation Committee
Chair: Prof. Iain D. Boyd
Cognate: Prof. Mark J. Kushner (EECS)
Members: Prof. Alec D. Gallimore and Member: Prof. John E. Foster (NERS)


Publications:

Journal Articles
1. Cusson, S. E., Georgin, M. P., Dragnea, H. C., Dale, E. T., Dhaliwal, V., Boyd, I. D., and Gallimore, A. D. " On Channel Interactions in Nested Hall Thrusters", Journal of Applied Physics Vol. 123, Issue 13, 2018, 133303.

2. Dragnea, H. C., Boyd, I. D., Lee, B. C., and Yalin, A. P., "Characterization of Eroded Boron Atoms in the Plume of a Hall Thruster", IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 43, Issue 1, 2015, pp. 35-44.

Conferences

1. Dragnea, H. C., and Boyd, I. D., "Axisymmetric Fully 2D Hybrid-PIC Model for Hall Thrusters", AIAA Paper 2018-4811, July 2018

2. Dragnea, H. C., Hara, K., and Boyd, I. D., "Development of a 2D Axisymmetric Electron Fluid Model in Hall Thrusters", AIAA Paper 2017-4632, July 2017.

3. Dragnea, H. C., Lopez Ortega, A., and Boyd, I. D., "Simulation of a Hall Effect Thruster with Krypton Propellant", AIAA Paper 2017-4633, July 2017.

4. Dragnea, H. C., Hara K., and Boyd, I. D., "Fully 2D Numerical Simulation of a Nested Channel Hall Thruster", Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France, SP2016_3124969, July 2016.

5. Dragnea, H. C. and Boyd, I. D., "Simulation of a Nested Channel Hall Thruster", Electric Rocket Propulsion Society, IEPC Paper 2015-250, July 2015.

6. Dragnea, H. C., Boyd, I. D., Lee, B. C., and Yalin, A. P., "Characterization of Eroded Boron Atoms in the Plume of a Hall Thruster", Electric Rocket Propulsion Society, IEPC Paper 2013-158, October 2013.

Presentations and Posters:

1. Dragnea, H. C., Hara, K., and Boyd, I. D., “A Fully 2D Electron Fluid Model for Hall Thrusters”, Gaseous Electronics Conference, Honolulu HI, October 2015.

2. Dragnea, H. C., Hara, K., and Boyd, I. D., “Development of a 2D Axial-Radial Fluid Electron Model”, Michigan Institute for Plasma Science and Engineering Symposium, U-M, October 2015.

3. Dragnea, H. C., Hall, S. J., Boyd, I. D. and Gallimore, A. D. “Preliminary Results and Future Goals for a Simultaneous Characterization of a Nested-channel Hall Thruster in Experiment and Simulation”, Advanced Space Propulsion Workshop, Ohio Aerospace Institute, November 2014.

4. Dragnea, H. C. and Boyd, I. D., “An Inner Channel Simulation of the X2 Nested Channel Hall Effect Thruster”, Engineering Graduate Symposium, U-M, November 2014.

5. Dragnea, H. C. and Boyd, I. D., “The X2 Nested Channel Hall Effect Thruster: An Inner Channel Simulation”, Michigan Institute for Plasma Science and Engineering Symposium, U-M, October 2014.

6. Dragnea, H. C. and Hall, S. J., “Simultaneous Characterization of a Nested-channel Hall Thruster in Experiment and Simulation” Aerospace Engineering Graduate Student Seminar Series, U-M, September 2014.

7. Dragnea, H. C. and Boyd, I. D., “Simulation of Sputtered Boron Atoms in the Plume of a SPT-70 Hall Thruster”, Michigan Institute for Plasma Science and Engineering Symposium, U-M, September 2013.
Building: Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Building
Event Type: Lecture / Discussion
Tags: Dissertation, Engineering
Source: Happening @ Michigan from Aerospace Engineering