Characterization of Vacuum Arc Thruster Performance in Weak Magnetic Nozzle
Vacuum arc thruster performance in a magnetic nozzle configuration is experimentally characterized. Measurements are performed on a miniature coaxial thruster with an anode inner diameter of <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mn>1.8&l...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Aerospace |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/7/6/82 |
| _version_ | 1797564756047953920 |
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| author | Satyajit Chowdhury Igal Kronhaus |
| author_facet | Satyajit Chowdhury Igal Kronhaus |
| author_sort | Satyajit Chowdhury |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vacuum arc thruster performance in a magnetic nozzle configuration is experimentally characterized. Measurements are performed on a miniature coaxial thruster with an anode inner diameter of <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mn>1.8</mn> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> mm. The magnetic field B is produced by a single air coil, 18 mm in diameter. Direct measurement of thrust, mass consumption and arc current are performed. To obtain statistically viable results <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mo>≈</mo> <mn>6000</mn> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> arc pulses are analyzed at each operational point. Cathode mass erosion is measured using laser profilometry. To sustain thruster operation over several measurement cycles, an active cathode feeding system is used. For <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mn>0</mn> <mo><</mo> <mi>B</mi> <mo>≤</mo> <mn>0.2</mn> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> T, performance increase over the non-magnetic case is observed with the best thrust to arc power ratio <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>T</mi> <mo>/</mo> <mi>P</mi> <mo>≈</mo> <mn>9</mn> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mi mathvariant="sans-serif">μ</mi> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>N/W obtained at <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>B</mi> <mo>≈</mo> <mn>0.2</mn> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> T. A parametric model is provided that captures the performance enhancement based on beam collimation and acceleration by the magnetic nozzle. For <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>B</mi> <mo>></mo> <mn>0.2</mn> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> T, the arc discharge is shown to be suppressed nullifying any additional gains by the nozzle effect. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:02:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-98a87a54944545ddab2338f0adfecaf4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2226-4310 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:02:24Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerospace |
| spelling | doaj.art-98a87a54944545ddab2338f0adfecaf42023-11-20T04:20:38ZengMDPI AGAerospace2226-43102020-06-01768210.3390/aerospace7060082Characterization of Vacuum Arc Thruster Performance in Weak Magnetic NozzleSatyajit Chowdhury0Igal Kronhaus1Aerospace Plasma Laboratory, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, IsraelAerospace Plasma Laboratory, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, IsraelVacuum arc thruster performance in a magnetic nozzle configuration is experimentally characterized. Measurements are performed on a miniature coaxial thruster with an anode inner diameter of <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mn>1.8</mn> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> mm. The magnetic field B is produced by a single air coil, 18 mm in diameter. Direct measurement of thrust, mass consumption and arc current are performed. To obtain statistically viable results <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mo>≈</mo> <mn>6000</mn> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> arc pulses are analyzed at each operational point. Cathode mass erosion is measured using laser profilometry. To sustain thruster operation over several measurement cycles, an active cathode feeding system is used. For <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mn>0</mn> <mo><</mo> <mi>B</mi> <mo>≤</mo> <mn>0.2</mn> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> T, performance increase over the non-magnetic case is observed with the best thrust to arc power ratio <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>T</mi> <mo>/</mo> <mi>P</mi> <mo>≈</mo> <mn>9</mn> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mi mathvariant="sans-serif">μ</mi> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>N/W obtained at <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>B</mi> <mo>≈</mo> <mn>0.2</mn> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> T. A parametric model is provided that captures the performance enhancement based on beam collimation and acceleration by the magnetic nozzle. For <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>B</mi> <mo>></mo> <mn>0.2</mn> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> T, the arc discharge is shown to be suppressed nullifying any additional gains by the nozzle effect.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/7/6/82vacuum arc thrusterelectric propulsionmicro-propulsionbeam collimationmagnetic fieldmagnetic nozzle |
| spellingShingle | Satyajit Chowdhury Igal Kronhaus Characterization of Vacuum Arc Thruster Performance in Weak Magnetic Nozzle Aerospace vacuum arc thruster electric propulsion micro-propulsion beam collimation magnetic field magnetic nozzle |
| title | Characterization of Vacuum Arc Thruster Performance in Weak Magnetic Nozzle |
| title_full | Characterization of Vacuum Arc Thruster Performance in Weak Magnetic Nozzle |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of Vacuum Arc Thruster Performance in Weak Magnetic Nozzle |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of Vacuum Arc Thruster Performance in Weak Magnetic Nozzle |
| title_short | Characterization of Vacuum Arc Thruster Performance in Weak Magnetic Nozzle |
| title_sort | characterization of vacuum arc thruster performance in weak magnetic nozzle |
| topic | vacuum arc thruster electric propulsion micro-propulsion beam collimation magnetic field magnetic nozzle |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/7/6/82 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT satyajitchowdhury characterizationofvacuumarcthrusterperformanceinweakmagneticnozzle AT igalkronhaus characterizationofvacuumarcthrusterperformanceinweakmagneticnozzle |