Long duration test of a 30-kW class thermal arcjet engine

Abstract

The paper describes a recent long-duration test of a 30-kW arcjet engine. This engine performed very well for 573 hours at power levels between 24 and 29 kW and with ammonia as the propellant at a mass flow rate between 0.25 and 0.27 g/s. The specific impulse varied between about 850 and 950 s and the thrust efficiency between 36 and 40 percent. The cause of final engine failure and the conditions of the electrodes and insulator are discussed in detail. An important part of this very long-term test effort was the performance and efficiency of the facility. The construction of this facility and the performance of the various critical components are discussed.