MSc., Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / In this thesis, a novel type of electrostatic thruster is introduced. The Corona Ionization (CorIon) Space Propulsion system is an electrostatic propulsion system intended for use on satellites and for deep space probes. It makes use of the corona ionization mechanism to create the needed propellant ions. This same mechanism is also responsible for the thrust, thereby reducing its size and complexity. First, the effects of incomplete ionization of propellant molecules is discussed and conclusions drawn. Next, a mathematical model describing the electric field characteristics is derived. Considering the needle tip as a point charge and the exhaust plume to be cylindrically symmetric with a constant spread angle, the resultant electric field of both the needle tip and the produced ions obeys Poisson‘s equation. The charge density is obtained from the relationship between the drift velocity and the current. In order to solve the differential equation, we consider the electric field to only change in the radial direction so that Poisson‘s Equation is reduced to its radial part. This differential equation is solved to yield the electric field of the system. Some results are discussed. By integrating the electric field the relationship between the potential difference and the current of propellant ions is obtained. This relationship also yields insight into the ionization efficiency. Following this, an expression for the thrust is derived via two different methods: The first uses the energy conservation, and is termed ―Vector heating‖. The ions are viewed as a current heating the neutrals in the plume in the direction away from the needle. A temperature can be derived for the plume, and the resulting average gas velocity estimated from molecular theory. Finally, using the rocket thrust equation, an expression for the thrust is obtained. iv The second, more conventional method uses electrostatic repulsion to calculate the recoil on the needle: from the electric field computed for the system, an expression for the Coulomb forces on the ionized propellant can be derived. The recoil on the needle will experience the same force, resulting in thrust. Finally, the theoretical predictions for the various parameters are compared to experimental data. From this comparison, it is seen that there is a reasonable agreement between the experimental data and the model even though the electrostatic prediction underestimates the thrust of the system.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg, 1997. / Results are reported on an initial investigation into corona power loss and its relationship to corona initiated audible noise. The work has the goal of being able to accurately predict the corona power loss, from a transmission line, from knowledge of the audible noise on the line. Corona power loss and its relationship to corona current, applied voltage and electric field is also exarr-ined. Experiments were performed using two single phase, different diameter, corona cages. Although the corona cage test results showed no correlation between corona initiated broad band audible noise and corona power loss, a linear empirical relationship, with excellent correlation, was found to exist between corona power loss and 100Hz Hum (dBA above 20jlPa). Results showed that, at the same magnitude of electric field, within the l h o different diameter corona cages, the corona current is the same magnitude and the corona power loss is proportional to the applied voltage. / MT2017

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Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1993. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-67). Also available via the Internet.

dissertatic,11 submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering, I.: Johannesburg, 1998 / Corona stabilisation is not a well understood phenomenon, consequently a rigorous theoretical description of how the merhanism operates does not exist. Furthermore, postulates on the prcJ'.tse physical processes that occur during corona stabilised breakdown are varied and conflicting. 1t was thus essential to develop a qualitative theory of how the mechanism operates around which a quantitative model could be constructed. To this aim, a detailed analysis of available modelling methods and empirical data from published works was carried out. This analysis together with additional finite elements modelling done as part of this work, leads to a proposed qualitative model which serves as a basis for a quantitative model developed to simulate corona stabilized breakdown from a fixed panicle defect. There is a favorable comparison between the predictions of the model and published measurements, thus imbuing optimism in the proposed method. The problem of measuring t: .;true charge deployed in a discharge is discussed and an experiment is designed to circumvent this problem.

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