Finding the Best Engine Geometry That Can Maximize Exhaust Velocity While Minimizing

Loss of Thrust for Spacecraft Electric Propulsion

Research Overview

In this research project, the effect of the Venturi principle being used to increase the plasma
exhaust velocity will be investigated. Exhaust velocity is the most important aspect of electric
propulsion because in space because it leads to a higher amount of efficiency in the thruster;
therefore, less fuel will be required and a higher change in velocity will also occur. Although the
Venturi effect will increase the exhaust velocity, it will lower the amount of thrust due to the laws
of conservation of energy and mass. There are two different types of engine geometries that will
be tested in this experiment; that both use the Venturi effect, however, they use it in two different
ways and data will be collected on the exhaust velocity and thrust to determine which design is
more effective.

Background and History of the Issue

The issue of thrust and exhaust velocity has existed in electric propulsion since the development
of electromagnetic and electromagnetic propulsion because in space, a higher delta-v (change in
velocity) can be accomplished by using engines with a higher specific impulse. This allows for
the engines to use less fuel for the thrust that it generates, which saves propellant, and as a result
can provide higher final speeds or can allow for a reduction in the weight of the propellant,
allowing for a heavier payload or a reduction in cost of the launch vehicle. Engines that run with
a higher specific impulse have the addition benefit of having higher exhaust velocity, which
helps to increase the efficiency of the engine. Engines that run with a lower specific impulse
have a higher level of thrust, a lower exhaust velocity, and are typically chemical rockets that are
used as launch vehicles; electric propulsion does not perform well in this configuration because it
loses so much efficiency.

There are several ways that exhaust velocity can be increased; the most prominent method being
to increase the amount of power that is supplied to the thrusters radio wave ionization devices in
the thruster and the electromagnetic acceleration field. However, this will mean that a more
powerful, heavier electrical plant onboard the spacecraft is necessary, and current power supplies
do not have a low enough power to weight ratio to support those kind of exhaust velocities.

Problem Statement

In spacecraft electric propulsion, a higher efficiency allows for longer burn times and increased
exhaust velocities; however, how much weight and space is available for the power supply is
available limits the size of the power supply. Currently, more advanced power supplies such as
fusion reactors and antimatter energy are being developed, but until then, humans will not be
able to leave Low Earth Orbit. There would be several benefits from conducting this research,
which include finding other ways to increase the exhaust velocity without requiring a higher
amount of power. The research would benefit people who are in the process of developing
electric propulsion engines, specifically engines in the electromagnetic class; however, these
techniques may also be able to be applied to electrostatic propulsion engines as well.

Research Methodology
Hypothesis

The exhaust velocity of a Magnetoplasmadynamic thruster can be increased without requiring

extra power if the Venturi effect is applied to the engines magnetic nozzle. This research will
determine which of two designs for the thrusters geometry will result in the greatest increase of
the exhaust velocity while minimizing the loss of thrust that is incurred during the Venturi effect.

Basis of Hypothesis

The Venturi effect occurs when a constriction is put on a fluid flowing through a pipe or a nozzle,
and when the constriction is greatest, the speed of the fluid will be the fastest, but the fluid
pressure falls. For example, a stream of liquid flowing through a Venturi nozzle would result in a
faster flowing liquid, but one that is applied at a lower pressure. In a plasma engine, the magnetic
nozzle that the thruster has is what applies the Venturi effect, allowing for a similar affect to
occur. This will result in a similar increase of exhaust velocity that would otherwise require an
increase in power to achieve but would come at the cost of losing some of the force that the
plasma produces.

Research Design

A correlational research design will be conducted in the form of an experiment and will
determine how the Venturi principle will affect the performance of the plasma engine.
Additionally, this experiment will determine which of the two engine geometries that use the
effect can maximize the exhaust velocity while minimizing the force that the engine loses as a
result. Due to the high cost of using an actual plasma engine, one nozzle for each of the engine
geometry designs will be 3D printed, and water will be used instead of plasma. While the
behavior of plasma is vastly different, the use of water will still allow for an estimation of how
the engine will perform, and quantitative data will be collected on the two nozzles and one
control group using a force meter, a flow rate meter, and a camera.

Operational Definitions

Venturi Effect/Bernoullis Principle: A principle based on the conservation of mass that states that
a fluid within or along a streamtube (pipe) will have an increase in velocity as the cross sectional
area decreases, and will correspond to a decrease in static pressure of the fluid.
Specific Impulse: The change in momentum experienced by a rocket per unit mass of rocket
propellant consumed. The change in momentum-thrust- is affected by how much propellant and
how fast that propellant is ejected from the rocket. The higher the specific impulse, the more
change in momentum that can be achieved for the fuel that is used.

Fusion: A type of nuclear reaction that involves the joining of two smaller atoms, and these
reactors are still being developed

Antimatter: A form of matter that is a direct inverse to normal matter, and when the two combine,
they annihilate. This type of reactor is still in the research stage.

Magnetoplasmadynamic Engine: A type of plasma rocket engine that ionizes gas either by
passing current through a gas using either the self-field method, which involves direct contact
between a cathode, anode, and the plasma, or an applied field thruster, which uses an external
radio-wave frequency generator. Both types use a magnetic field in order to accelerate and eject
the plasma from the engine.

Product Overview:

The results of the experiment will be presented in the Baltimore Science fair this year, in the
form of a display board that outlines the results of the experiment, how the data will be
conducted, and some of the other secondary and primary research that was collected in the
research process. There will also be two 3D Printed models of the Compression Engine, one per
each variation of engine geometry, that can be used for reference later in the design process.
Finally, the data that was collected will reveal which engine geometry maximizes the exhaust
velocity which minimizing the loss of thrust.

Logistical Considerations:

In order to conduct this experiment, two different nozzle geometries will have to be 3D printed
out, and also need to be capable of being screwed onto a garden hose. In order to make these
nozzles, they have to be modeled in a 3D Computer-Assisted Design program, specifically
Autodesk Inventor. The engines were already modeled in the program because of other work
previously done, however, they needed to be scaled down to fit on the garden hose. Additionally,
the thread that would allow them to be screwed onto the garden hose would need to be modeled.
In order to print them out, I would use the Howard High School engineering departments 3D
printer. When conducting the experiment a digital flow meter will be needed in addition to a
force probe or scale. A high-definition camera is already possessed. In order to compete in the
science fair, arrangement of transportation will be arranged.