openPlume 2.0: What’s Next?
- Bayrem
- Mar 4
- 2 min read
It’s been five years since our last major update—so what’s been happening in the world of openPlume? Quite a lot! The tool has evolved significantly, becoming more efficient, stable, and widely adopted. openPlumeCP has been instrumental in supporting all our chemical propulsion projects, while openPlumeEP has done the same for electric propulsion. Our user base has expanded beyond Europe, attracting premium users, and we’ve seen around 84 downloads of the tool.
Key Developments
Enhanced Contamination Modeling – We integrated a contamination module into openPlumeCP, expanding its analytical capabilities.
Charging Potential Simulation – openPlumeEP now supports the loading of charging potential, improving its application for EP systems.
Broader CFD Integration – We connected openPlumeCP to additional CFD tools beyond OpenFOAM, increasing its flexibility.
Extended Thruster Modeling – openPlumeEP now supports a wider range of electric propulsion thrusters.
SPARTA Integration – openPlumeCFD is now linked to SPARTA (a DSMC tool), extending our modeling capabilities to engines of up to 8 kN! Application case: Moon Landing !
Expanded Propellant Options – We introduced new propellants for EP, including Krypton and Argon, and are working on connecting openPlumeEP with other PIC codes.
Validation with In-Orbit Data – We've successfully compared openPlume's results with real in-orbit data for both CP and EP, further strengthening its reliability.
Want to dive deeper? Check out our latest conference publications for detailed insights.
What’s Next?
Our journey with openPlume is far from over. We’re actively developing new features and pushing the boundaries of what this tool can achieve. Right now, we’re preparing for the launch of openPlume 2.0—and trust us, it’s going to be big.
Stay tuned! 🚀
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