Design and Stress Analysis of Extraterrestrial ... - The Black Vault

enters through the injector into the plasma generator where it is
ionized in the interelectrode space. From the plasma generator
it enters the thermal nozzle and then into the coaxial accelerator.
The electrode system is cooled by the working medium in radiators
insulated from each other. For insulating the cathode and anode
unit separators of thorium -ide or aluminum are used.
On the anode is placed a profiled solenoid with a winding of
copper wire insulated from the anode by the application of a layer
of aluminum oxide. The purpose of the solenoid Is to create a
magnetic field for plasma acceleration. Along with this there is
an improvement in the temperature mode of the plasma and an Increase
in motor efficiency.
In the first design of coaxial motors important charact•,:istics
were noted:
the length of electrodes, particularly the cathode,
after a certain value affects somewhat the effectiveness of motor
operation. The cathode is subject to strong heating and erosion.
The face of the electrodes has considerable significance in
thrust.
Figure 5.3 is
obtaining
a simplified diagram of the equipotential surfac%.
of plasma on the face of a coaxial motor. If there is no external
magnetic field, the plasma is
heated by the heating effect of the
cirrent which increases in the walls of the cathode. Its ewn
magnetic field presses the plasma to the surface of t:.e cathode and
before the cathode. On the face of the cathode the form of the i":
bunch is
similar to the form of the electrode; the temperatuie effecb
on the face of the cathode, leading to its erosion, is the greatest.
Fig. 5.3. Simplified diagram of M•
the vectors of current, field,
and forces in a coaxial motor.
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