Collaborative Optimization Research on Simulation and Experiment of Electric Propulsion System under Atmospheric Pressure

Ion flow propulsion technology is a novel electric propulsion technique that directly converts electrical energy into thrust. Owing to its advantages, including low power consumption, minimal noise, and the absence of mechanical moving parts, it has garnered significant attention in the aerospace industry. To develop optimization strategies, a "needle-ring" electric propulsion system was modeled using the finite element software COMSOL Multiphysics. The study investigated the impact of varying discharge voltages, electrode spacings, and lower electrode deflection angles on the ion flow velocity produced by the electric propulsion system under atmospheric conditions. The findings indicate that the higher the voltage applied to the upper electrode, the larger the corona region and the greater the ion flow velocity; reducing the lower electrode's deflection angle diminishes the angle of intersection created by the ion flow. Adjusting the lower electrode's deflection angle is optimal for minimizing the rate of change in axial ion flow velocity; narrowing the electrode spacing enhances the magnitude of the ion flow's radial velocity.