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Effect of double-stage discharge on the performance of a multi-mode Hall thruster.
- Source :
-
Vacuum . Sep2016, Vol. 131, p312-318. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- In order to develop multi-mode thrusters for all-electric propulsion spacecraft, a double-stage Hall thruster is designed and investigated experimentally. By applying two independent non-emissive electrodes and a double-peaked magnetic field in the double-stage Hall thruster, the propellant can be ionized in the first stage and then accelerated in the second stage. Experiment results revealed that double-stage discharge effectively improves thruster performance in high specific impulse working mode by reducing the electron current. A one-dimensional model is used to discuss the effects of discharge parameters on ionization distribution theoretically. As a conclusion, ionization distribution (in terms of position and length) in high specific impulse mode (mode I) is significantly different compared to high-thrust working mode (mode F). This double-stage Hall thruster provides a double-stage discharge in mode I to enhance the ionization in the channel and a single-stage discharge in mode F to reduce the ion wall-loss, achieving high efficiency in both working modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0042207X
- Volume :
- 131
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Vacuum
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 117010749
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2016.07.014