Energy efficiency in low voltage hall thrusters
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
1-1-2007
Abstract
Energy efficiency measurements were taken on a 2 kW (nominal) Hall thruster operating at discharge voltages of 100-200 V and 3 mg/s of xenon. Acceleration and current efficiencies were compared to thrust efficiency over a range of magnet coil current values of 0 A - 2.5 A. Acceleration efficiencies were obtained with a 4-grid Retarding potential analyzer and current efficiency measurements were calculated from the discharge current as read from the power supply maintaining the anodecathode potential. The acceleration efficiency and current efficiency were divergent in the region of maximum thrust efficiency. Acceleration efficiency increased with decreasing magnet current where the cathode-to-ground potential was determined to account for a portion of the increase in the region of interest.
Publication Title
Collection of Technical Papers - 43rd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference
Recommended Citation
Ross, J.,
&
King, L.
(2007).
Energy efficiency in low voltage hall thrusters.
Collection of Technical Papers - 43rd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference,
2, 1715-1723.
http://doi.org/10.2514/6.2007-5179
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/13957