​RDMS X-Jet Description

The RDMS X-Jet is a small-scale ~30 kW arc jet heater in which air-based plasma within an arc chamber is heated and expanded to high temperatures and enthalpies as it is ejected from a converging/diverging nozzle at supersonic velocities. The arc jet heater will incorporate a two percent thoriated tungsten cathode and a water-cooled copper anode, while a two-stage rotary vane roughing pump capable of providing background pressures near 10 mTorr will be utilized. A vertical multi-stage pump will direct cooling water to a laboratory chiller which will then be distributed for anode cooling. An arc welding DC power supply will be used to maintain a continuous electrical discharge between the electrodes and a custom-built stainless steel vacuum chamber will house the entire arc heater assembly. Finally, attached to the vacuum chamber will be a high velocity linear actuator for sample insertion as well as multiple viewports for optical diagnostics.

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Location: San Francisco​​​​​

 

​​​​Testing Inquiries:

If you have a program that may benefit from arc jet testing please contact the Baldwin Aerosapce team. We'll set up a meeting to discuss testing characteristics and scheduling.

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