In recent years there has been a growth in demand for CubeSats and as a result there has been a need to increase the efficiency in micro-propulsion resisto-jet systems. In this paper a direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is utilized to investigate numerical optimization of nozzle geometries in low Reynolds number micro-nozzles that are commonly used for micro-propulsion resisto-jet systems. This procedure is advantageous as it accounts for viscosity and rarefied effects inside the low Reynolds number micro-nozzle. The DSMC model will be validated with experimental results for various nozzle geometries across a range of Reynolds numbers using nitrogen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen propellants. In this paper a DSMC-based optimization procedure is investigated to design conical and contoured axisymmetric nozzles. This work is part of a larger program which also includes an experimental investigation with optical measurement of the plume.
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