Comment on “Jet propulsion by microwave air plasma in the atmosphere” [AIP Adv. 10, 055002 (2020)]

In this Comment, we analyze the performance of a microwave plasma device presented by Ye et al. [AIP Adv. 10, 055002 (2020)]. The efficiency analysis, using conservation of energy, shows that the methods used by the original authors predict up to 8000% device efficiency. Our analytical model is base...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	AIP advances Vol. 10; no. 9; pp. 099101 - 099101-4
Main Authors:	Wright, Peter L., Samples, Stephen A., Uchizono, Nolan M., Wirz, Richard E.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Melville American Institute of Physics 01-09-2020 AIP Publishing LLC
Subjects:	Air plasma Energy conservation Jet propulsion Microwave plasmas Stagnation pressure
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	In this Comment, we analyze the performance of a microwave plasma device presented by Ye et al. [AIP Adv. 10, 055002 (2020)]. The efficiency analysis, using conservation of energy, shows that the methods used by the original authors predict up to 8000% device efficiency. Our analytical model is based on a control volume analysis of the original authors’ experimental setup and conditions, indicating that blocking the exit of the device yields stagnation pressure rather than jet pressure. The results from this analysis are consistent with the reported experimental data, demonstrating that the measured pressure using this method is internal chamber pressure and cannot be used to estimate thrust.
ISSN:	2158-3226 2158-3226
DOI:	10.1063/5.0013575