Direct Current Discharge in Supersonic Flow

Abstract

Abstract. In paper the numerical model of non-equilibrium discharge in the flow has been presented based on coupled solution of the Navier-Stokes equations and transport equations for charged particles. This model has been applied to simulate the flow around the spherical cathode reported earlier in experimental work. Conclusion has been drawn that discharge effects on the flow through a thermal mechanism, while electrostatic force appearing in the cathode space charge region is too small to influence the flow field. At the same time, serious discrepancies in the computed and experimental results were observed. It was assumed that these discrepancies are probably due to uncertainties in flow and geometry specifying. In the current paper an attempt is made to numerically simulate the discharge in the flow for which the free-stream conditions are well known (Ma = 3.2). Experimental studies on the discharge under consideration were reported in paper. The model developed in paper is used for simulations. Attention is paid to the influence of plasma on the supersonic flow. The influence of the discharge on the model’s drag is discussed.