High power light gas helicon plasma source for VASIMR

Squire, Jared P.; Chang‐Diaz, Franklin; Glover, T. W.; Jacobson, V. T.; McCaskill, Greg; Winter, de; Baity, F. W.; Carter, Mark D.; Goulding, R. H.

doi:10.1016/j.tsf.2005.08.061

Cited by 34 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Diverging (cusp) magnetic fields upstream of the antenna can also create a low-field peak by bringing the field lines against the sidewalls, which then act as an endplate 26 . This effect was observed long ago 28 and has been rediscovered in VASIMR experiments 21 . By using the low-field peak, a given density can be produced with a smaller Bfield; and by using m = 0 antennas, plasma wall losses under the antenna can be greatly reduced.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 76%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Permanent Magnet Helicon Source for Ion Propulsion

Chen

2008

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Helicon sources have been proposed by at least two groups for generating ions for space propulsion: the HDLT concept at the Australian National University (ANU), and the VASIMR concept at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. These sources normally require a large electromagnet and power supply to produce the magnetic field. At this stage of research, emphasis has been on the plasma density and ion current that can be produced, but not much on the weight, size, impulse, and gas efficiency of the thruster. This paper concerns the source itself and shows that great savings in size and weight can be obtained by using specially designed permanent magnets (PMs). This PM helicon design, originally developed for plasma processing of large substrates, is extended here for ion thrusters of both the HDLT and VASIMR types. Measured downstream densities are of order 10 12 cm -3 , which should yield much higher ion currents than reported so far. The design principles have been checked experimentally, showing that the predictions of the theory and computations are reliable. The details of two new designs are given here to serve as examples to stimulate further research on the use of such sources as thrusters.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Experiments on the VASIMR engine have been carried out at the Johnson Space Center in Houston using light gases in a 9-cm diam helicon source 21 . The use of gases lighter than Li was dictated by the ICRH section, where heavier gases would require overly high B-fields to keep the ion Larmor radii small.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Permanent Magnet Helicon Source for Ion Propulsion

Chen

2008

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It uses strong, shaped magnetic fields to contain and direct a high-power plasma for high-specific impulse propulsive thrust. The plasma is created using helicon electromagnetic waves [2] in what is thereby known as the helicon section of the engine. A gas containment tube (GCT) is used in this helicon section to contain the neutral gas prior to ionisation and to ensure physical separation between the neutral gas and the helicon antenna.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fused quartz has been used successfully as the GCT material in previous VASIMR ® prototype engines [2,6]. Fused quartz has also been used in other large diameter helicon plasma sources [7], and widely used as a gas containment tube material in helicon plasma sources for plasma-assisted coating and sputtering applications [8], (where commonly referred to as a 'discharge tube').…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of the processing, composition, and temperature-dependent mechanical and thermal properties of dielectric technical ceramics

et al. 2011

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The current review uses the material requirements of a new space propulsion device, the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR ® ) as a basis for presenting the temperature dependent properties of a range of dielectric ceramics, but data presented could be used in the engineering design of any ceramic component with complementary material requirements. A material is required for the gas containment tube (GCT) of VASIMR ® to allow it to operate at higher power levels. The GCT's operating conditions place severe constraints on the choice of material. A dielectric is required with a high thermal conductivity, low dielectric loss factor, and high thermal shock resistance. There is a lack of a representative set of temperature-dependent material property data for materials considered for this application and these are required for accurate thermo-structural modelling. This modelling would facilitate the selection of an optimum material for this component. The goal of this paper is to determine the best material property data values for use in the materials selection and design of such components. A review of both experimentally and theoretically-determined temperature-dependent & room temperature properties of several materials has been undertaken. Data extracted are presented by property. Properties reviewed are density, Young's, bulk and shear moduli, Poisson's ratio, tensile, flexural and compressive strength, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, thermal expansion coefficient and the factors affecting maximum service temperature. Materials reviewed are alumina, aluminium nitride, beryllia, fused quartz, sialon and silicon nitride.

show abstract

“…It uses strong magnetic fields to contain and direct a high-power plasma for high-specific impulse propulsive thrust. The plasma is created using helicon electromagnetic waves in what is thereby known as the helicon section of the engine [3]. Following ionisation, the plasma is heated to a high temperature by electromagnetic waves at the ion cyclotron resonance frequency (ICRF), significantly increasing the azimuthal velocity of the ions [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inverse estimate of heat flux on a plasma discharge tube to steady-state conditions using thermocouple data and a radiation boundary condition

Faoite¹,

Browne²,

Gamboa³

et al. 2014

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The heat flux incident upon the inner surface of a plasma discharge tube during a helicon plasma discharge was estimated using an inverse method. Temperature readings were taken from the outer surface of the tube using thermocouples, and the temperature data were interpolated over the tube surface. A numerical inverse procedure based on the Alifanov iterative regularisation method was used to reconstruct the heat flux on the tube inner surface as a function of space and time. In contrast to previously-used inverse models for this application, the current model implements a thermal radiation boundary condition to realistically model the energy exchange in the device. Additionally in these experiments, steady-state operation was reached, and the accurate modelling of the steady-state condition was facilitated by the thermal radiation boundary condition. The variation of heat flux with helicon discharge power, propellant flowrate, and electromagnet current was studied, and it was found that the waste heat flux increased with applied RF power and propellant flowrate, and decreased with current supplied to the electromagnets, over the range of parameter variation tested.

show abstract

High power light gas helicon plasma source for VASIMR

Cited by 34 publications

References 5 publications

Permanent Magnet Helicon Source for Ion Propulsion

Permanent Magnet Helicon Source for Ion Propulsion

A review of the processing, composition, and temperature-dependent mechanical and thermal properties of dielectric technical ceramics

Inverse estimate of heat flux on a plasma discharge tube to steady-state conditions using thermocouple data and a radiation boundary condition

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About