3-dimensional Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Simulation of Thruster Plumes

The interaction of thruster plumes with satellite components can have undesirable effects, such as disturbance force/torque, thermal loading, and species deposition in the surfaces. The purpose of this paper is to use the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method to analyze the 3D plume impingement flows and investigate its effects. Two impingement problems are computed. The impact of a jet of nitrogen on an inclined flat plate is considered. Good agreement is found between surface quantities calculated by DSMC and experimental data. The plume of a hydrazine control thruster firing in a model satellite configuration is simulated. Surface quantities and net impingement effects are calculated. The effects of partial displacement of the thruster locations on the results have also been investigated. The results show that a 20% displacement of the thruster location can change the disturbance force/torque by up to 15% of the initial values.