Basic Operational Characteristics and Thrust Performance of Low Power Hall Thrusters.

Abstract

Laboratory-model low-power Hall thrusters, named the THT-III-series, were operated in order to examine influences of ceramics species of the acceleration channel walls, and shape and strength of radial magnetic field in the acceleration channels on the operational characteristics. For the THT-III A-BN thruster both with acceleration channel walls made of boron nitride and with more intensive concentration of magnetic field lines near the acceleration channel exit, a higher thrust efficiency was achieved with a lower discharge current and a higher thrust for an optimum magnetic field strength regardless of discharge voltage at a constant xenon mass flow rate. Accordingly, both the thrust and the specific impulse ranged from 10 to 70 mN and from 1,200 to 2,300 s, respectively, at discharge voltages of 200-500 V with mass flow rates of 1-3 mg/s in a wide input power range of 250-1,800 W. The thrust efficiency ranged from 30 to 45%.