Numerical simulation of micro-nozzle and micro-nozzle-array flowfield characteristics

Preliminary numerical simulation using a Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method was conducted to elucidate the internal flowfield and external plume characteristics of micro-single-nozzles and micro-nozzle-arrays, since these small-sized nozzles generally undergo a severe viscous loss due to the low Reynolds numbers. This study also contains the investigation on optimization of the geometry and configuration of the micro-nozzles and micro-nozzle-arrays to achieve the improved propulsive performance. Typical sizes of each rectangular nozzle element were 0.1 mm in throat height, 0.36 mm in exit height, and 0.35 mm in length of the divergent part. For the micro-single-nozzles, calculated specific impulses were fairly in good agreement with our previous experimental data, showing a poor nozzle efficiency due to the viscous loss of low Reynolds number. Also, mechanisms of exhaust jet interaction of multi-nozzle-array jets, bringing a significant improvement in thrust performance, were investigated. As a result, it was shown that pressure and temperature increased at the exit and jet boundaries, and then the exhaust multi-jets were not expanded after the exit, or rather being confined, showing possibilities to realize the higher propulsive performance due to the augmented effect of the pressure thrust.