Numerical study on end effect of the seawater MHD thruster in a linear channel

Xiaoqiang Chen¹ - Lingzhi Zhao^1,2 - Feng Wang¹ - Aiwu Peng^1,2

¹ Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
² University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

Abstract
The end effect of the MHD thruster refers to the phenomenon of seawater flowing under the end magnetic field and the end electric field of the thruster channel and its influence on propulsion performance. Starting from the thruster power balance equation and the end effect mechanism, this paper defines five dimensionless parameters: the Joule heat power coefficient, the electromagnetic power coefficient, the leakage current coefficient, the electromagnetic force coefficient, and the electromagnetic efficiency coefficient to characterize and quantify the end effect of the MHD thruster. Based on Ansys Fluent 3D numerical simulation, the influence of applied voltage, flow rate and channel structure on the end effect was studied, and the influencing factors and variation rules of the end effect were obtained. The research methods applied and research results obtained in this study can provide guidance and be a basis for the optimal design of high-performance linear channel MHD thrusters. Key words: Seawater MHD thruster, linear channel, end effect, numerical simulation. Tables 2, Figs 13, Refs 13.