The goal of this project was to design and build a laboratory-model, Radio-Frequency Electrothermal thruster to operate at 300 W using a 13.56 MHz RF power supply. The thruster was designed to include an interchangeable nozzle. Two numerical models were created. The first was a 0-D global model based on an energy balance in the discharge and implemented in MATLAB. The second was a heat transfer model generated using COMSOL multiphysics software. Materials and components were selected and purchased for the thruster structure, mounting stand, gas inlet, and discharge cavity. A matching network was required to minimize reflected power in the transmission line. After a review of matching network theory, a circuit analysis was performed to design the network and select components.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Tripp, Zackary Philip
• Byrne, Ryan James
• Osborn, Scott David

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-043015-103108

Advisor

• Blandino, John J.

Year

• 2015

Date created

• 2015-04-30

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Aerospace Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright