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Three-dimensional particle simulation of back-sputtered carbon in electric propulsion test facility

Three-dimensional particle simulation of back-sputtered carbon in electric propulsion test facility

Authors :
Hongru Zheng
Liu Lihui
Guobiao Cai
Shang Shengfei
Bijiao He
Source :
Acta Astronautica. 132:161-169
Publication Year :
2017
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2017.

Abstract

The back-sputtering deposition on thruster surface caused by ion bombardment on chamber wall material affects the performance of thrusters during the ground based electric propulsion endurance tests. In order to decrease the back-sputtering deposition, most of vacuum chambers applied in electric propulsion experiments are equipped with anti-sputtering targets. In this paper, a three-dimensional model of plume experimental system (PES) including double layer anti-sputtering target is established. Simulation cases are made to simulate the plasma environment and sputtering effects when an ion thruster is working. The particle in cell (PIC) method and direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is used to calculate the velocity and position of particles. Yamamura's model is used to simulate the sputtering process. The distribution of sputtered anti-sputtering target material is presented. The results show that the double layer anti-sputtering target can significantly reduce the deposition on thruster surface. The back-sputtering deposition rates on thruster exit surface for different cases are compared. The chevrons on the secondary target are rearranged to improve its performance. The position of secondary target has relation with the ion beam divergence angle, and the radius of the vacuum chamber. The back-sputtering deposition rate is lower when the secondary target covers the entire ion beam.

Details

ISSN :
00945765
Volume :
132
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Acta Astronautica
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........305c2090f69662f4cc169574e6bfc726
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2016.12.016