A power supply of cathode has been developed for hall-effect thruster for small satellite. A microwave cathode has been applied to the electric propulsion system and cathode power is necessary in oder to work securely. Anode current is varied by a flow rate controlled by anode tank pressure. Then cathode current has to be controled in proportion by anode current. So cathode power supply has been designed to offer a current proportional to anode current. Also cathode power has been tuned to work securely for cathode to emit more electron than anode within 0.03A. The function test of cathode power was performed by constructing an equivalent load for anode and cathode. It has been tested in a vacuum chamber in order to ensure a stable operation of the thruster. And it was confirmed that thruster normally has been operated in the space environment after the launch.
The thruster head unit of a 300 W cylindrical Hall thruster was developed for the propulsion system of small satellites. The magnetic topology in the thruster channel is a key parameter to achieve high performances. Two types of magnetic circuit structures were designed and manufactured to compare the thrust levels and efficiencies. Also the endurance test was conducted to measure the stable operation duration of the thruster head and to find degree of erosion after extended operation.
A Xenon Feed System (XFS) has been developed for hall-effect thruster to small satellite space-propulsion system applications. The XFS delivers low pressure gas to the Anode and Cathode of thruster head unit from a xenon storage tank. Accurate throttling of the propellant mass flow rate is independently required for each channel of the thruster head unit. The mass flow rate to each channel is controlled using the accumulator tank pressure regulation through a micron orifice and isolation valve.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citationsโcitations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.