Alexis LEFEVRE

DOI Number: N/A

Conference number: HiSST-2025-141

The use of argon test gas in the T4 Stalker tunnel is numerically investigated by means of the L1D and NENZF1D facility simulation codes, with the aim of producing pre-ionized argon experiments for future fundamental studies of hypersonic, airbreathing electromagnetic propulsion. The results computed with Mach 4 and Mach 7 nozzles indicate that significant non-thermal ionization fractions ranging from 1.0e-6 to 3.0e-3 can be produced in the experimental test flow, with corresponding electrical conductivities of
up to 100 S/m. A quasi-1D, steady-state solution was then applied to evaluate MHD source terms and solve the Navier-Stokes equations with a simple first-order Euler scheme. Joule heating was found to be significant when constant electric field acceleration was attempted, preventing any significant acceleration of the flow, which nonetheless provides a good case for fundamental studies of Joule heating effects on flow structure in non-equilibrium, weakly ionized plasma. Options for improving the Lorentz efficiency and thrust performance are proposed for future studies. Experimental characterization of these new argon conditions should be performed, as well as more realistic CFD in three-dimensions, to go beyond the simplifying assumptions made in this preliminary study.

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In Categories: 1.Events, 1.HiSST 2025, Propulsion Systems & Components
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