Air Intake Performance of Air Breathing Ion Engines
Open accessAbstract
The air breathing ion engine (ABIE) is a new type of electric propulsion system which can be used to compensate the aerodynamic drag of the satellite orbiting at extremely low altitudes. In this propulsion system, the low-density atmosphere surrounding the satellite is taken in and used as the propellant of ion engines to reduce the propellant mass for a long operation lifetime. Since feasibility and performance of the ABIE are subject to the compression ratio and the air intake efficiency, a numerical analysis has been conducted by means of the direct-simulation Monte-Carlo method to clarify the characteristics of the air-intake performance in highly rarefied flows. Influences of the flight altitude, the aspect-ratio of the air intake duct, the angle of attack, and the wall conditions are investigated.
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As shown in [54], wall temperature has only a minor influence, while high specularity of intake walls reduces compression.
“As shown in [54], while the wall temperature has only a minor influence, a high specularity of the intake walls reduces the compression.”
From A review of air-breathing electric propulsion: from mission studies to technology verification (2022) · cites this paper as [54]
The comparison of the results with those of RARAC-3D DSMC shows a great agreement between the two codes.
“The comparison of the results with those of RARAC-3D DSMC [54] shows a great agreement between the two codes.”
From A review of air-breathing electric propulsion: from mission studies to technology verification (2022) · cites this paper as [54]
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- Authors
- Fujita, K.
- Affiliations
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Fujita, Kazuhisa
- ORCID
- Fujita, Kazuhisa
- Venue
- Journal of the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences
- Published
- 2004
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 610
- Pages
- 514-521
- ISSN
- 1344-6460 (ISSN-L)
- 2432-3691
- OpenAlex
- W2027680940
- Cited by
- 46
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- JOURNAL OF THE JAPAN SOCIETY FOR AERONAUTICAL AND SPACE SCIENCES (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Applied Mathematics › Gas Dynamics and Kinetic Theory
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Plasma Diagnostics and Applications
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Plasma and Flow Control in Aerodynamics
- Keywords
- electric propulsion, compression ratio, angle of attack, wall conditions, direct simulation Monte Carlo
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