Abstract
Computational fluid dynamics analysis was carried out for thermo-chemical flow field in Arcjet thruster with mono-propellant Hydrazine ($N_2$H$_4$) as a working fluid. The theoretical formulation is based on the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations for compressible flows with thermal radiation. The electric potential field governed by Maxwell equation is loosely coupled with the fluid dynamics equations through the Ohm heating and Lorentz force. Chemical reactions were assumed being infinitely fast due to the high temperature field inside the arcjet thruster. An equilibrium chemistry module for nitrogen-hydrogen mixture and a thermal radiation module for optically thin media were incorporated with the fluid dynamics code. Thermo-physical process inside the arcjet thruster was understood from the flow field results and the performance prediction shows that the thrust force is increased by amount of 3 times with 0.6KW arc heating.