Abstract: The energy balance and conversion efficiency were discussed by analyzing and experimenting LCR discharging circuit of the coaxial water-fed pulsed plasma thruster. The analysis shows that storage energy in the main capacity is converted into kinetic energy and consumed by the capacity equivalent resistance. According to the allocation of equivalent resistance, the conversion efficiency of accelerator and electric magnetic forces of water-fed pulsed plasma thruster is defined. The experiment indicates that, the energy conversion efficiency that the dump energy (E₀ =4.86J) of the water-fed pulsed plasma thruster is converted into accelerator is of 28%, among which 11% is used for electromagnetic acceleration and 17% for electrothermal acceleration, and that 72% of storage energy is consumed by the storage capacity and internal resistance of transmission line. 

Key words: Pulsed plasma thruster; Energy balance; Efficiency; Water-fed; Equivalent circuit

摘要： 通过一种同轴水工质脉冲等离子体推进器的LCR放电回路的理论分析和实验来探讨其在运行过程中的能量平衡和能量转换效率。理论分析认为储能电容中的储存能量通过放电转化为加速动能及被传输线和电容的等效电阻消耗掉,并且根据等效电阻的分配情况定义了水工质脉冲等离子体推进器的加速动能和电磁力转换效率。实验研究表明:该水工质脉冲等离子体推进器的存储能量(E₀=4.86J)转换成加速动能的能量转换效率是28%,其中11%用于电磁加速及17%用于电热加速,其余72%的存储能量消耗在储能电容和传输线内阻所造成的能量损失上。

关键词: 脉冲等离子体推进器;能量平衡;效率;水工质;等效电路