Numerical study and comparison of the marine MHD thruster in a helical channel and in a linear channel

X. Chen^{1, 2} - H. Ye³ - L. Zhao^{1, 2} - L. Li^{1, 2} - A. Peng^{1, 2}

¹ Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China 100190
² University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China 100049
³ Tianjin Wannuohui Technology Co., Ltd, China 300480

Abstract
DC internal MHD thrusters are mainly of two types: a linear channel type and a helical channel type. In this paper, firstly, the two types of thrusters with different channels are compared and analyzed briefly. Secondly, the hydraulic loss characteristics and propulsion performance characteristics of the two channels are quantitatively analyzed by numerical simulation. The results show that the total hydraulic loss coefficient of the linear channel is about 2% of the helical channel under the same warm hole diameter and effective space of the magnetic field. The propulsion performance indices of the pressure rise, mass flowrate, thrust and efficiency of the linear channel are much better than that of the helical channel under the same input electric power, but considering the difficulty in making two different types of superconducting magnets, a comprehensive evaluation should be taken into account in actual use. Tables 3, Figs 13, Refs 13.