Conceptual Demonstration of Hydrogen Peroxide Based Electrochemical Propulsion with Rotating Gliding Arc

The development of high-performance green monopropellant-based small thrusters is essential for successful multipurpose space missions. This study experimentally demonstrates a novel electrochemical propulsion system that leverages rotating gliding arc (RGA) plasma to enhance the performance of 88 wt% hydrogen peroxide. This is the first electrochemical propulsion system that utilizes catalytic decomposition gases of hydrogen peroxide directly as plasma-forming gases and an alternating current (AC)-based RGA. The system employs an AC power supply operating at a 20 kHz frequency, combined with a swirler and an anchoring component that ensures geometric stabilization of the arc column. This configuration enabled stable plasma discharge under high-temperature ([Formula: see text]) and high-pressure ([Formula: see text]) conditions. The propulsion performance of the plasma reactor was significantly improved by rapidly heating the discharge gases, which were then accelerated to supersonic speeds through a De-Laval nozzle. In the electrochemical operation mode, this process led to consistent enhancements in both chamber pressure and characteristic velocity, achieving approximately 1.4- and 2-fold increases, respectively, compared to the chemical mode (without plasma discharge). The novel propulsion concept can provide a universally applicable solution capable of enhancing the performance of chemical propulsion systems with plasma discharge.