A METHODOLOGY FOR COMPUTING THERMODYNAMIC AND TRANSPORT-PROPERTIES OF PLASMA MIXTURES IN ETC INJECTORS

This paper describes the development of a numerical model for computing the thermodynamic and transport properties of plasma mixtures characteristic of those found in plasma injectors. The species currently considered in the model are H, C, Cu, Al, Fe, O and N; however, the model is designed such that other species can be added as needed. The calculation of plasma properties employs a methodology that makes it particularly well-suited for incorporation into computational fluid dynamic models for the injector. The paper describes the theory and the methodology used to compute the plasma properties. We compare the results of the mixture model with results from more restrictive models as a means of validating the methodology. We also report results from a study conducted with the model to examine the effect of variations in plasma composition on plasma properties.