Axisymmetric flow in electric arc jets and nozzles

The employment of electric arcs has been considered in connection with applications involving arc jet engines and electric space propulsion systems. Masser (1963) has reported problems related to studies of electric arc devices, taking into account also inconsistent test results. Because of these problems, an attempt was made to develop a method of analysis which could relate arc jet performance to the geometry and flow pattern. Attention is given to the flow model, the pressure gradient, the assumptions made in the numerical calculations, the procedure for numerical solution, the gas properties, zero current constant property heat transfer, the effect of inlet velocity and enthalpy profiles, experimental voltage gradient measurements, and experimental thruster results. It is found that the accuracy of the calculations is currently limited by knowledge of gas properties.