Abstract

Abstract The effects of anode voltage and mass flow rate on the erosion of the inner permanent magnet conducting cover in a 100W Hall thruster were studied in this paper. To accelerate erosion, an inner permanent magnet conducting cover made of aluminum alloy was employed. Experimental results indicate that the erosion rate of the inner conducting cover increases with higher anode voltage and mass flow rate. When the anode mass flow rate is set at 3.8 sccm and the anode voltage increases from 200 V to 300 V and 350 V, the erosion rate at the center of the inner conducting cover increases from 6.54 mm/kh to 9.29 mm/kh and 13.79 mm/kh, respectively, reflecting increases of 42.0% and 110.8% compared to the initial erosion rate. When the anode voltage is 200V and the anode mass flow rate increases from 3.8 sccm to 5.4 sccm and 6.9 sccm, the erosion rate at the center of the cover increases from 6.54 mm/kh to 9.00 mm/kh and 10.91 mm/kh, indicating increases of 37.6% and 66.9%, respectively. These findings underscore the challenges of maintaining the lifespan of the inner conducting cover when thruster is operated under the conditions of high specific impulse and high thrust discharge. Further investigation reveals that the potential difference between the channel exit and the inner conducting cover is a significant factor driving ions near the channel exit bombardment of the inner conducting cover. Increased anode voltage and mass flow rate enhance this potential difference and increase the ion density near the channel exit, resulting in greater current density and energy of ions bombarding the inner conducting cover, thereby accelerating its erosion. This study provides a reference for the lifespan analysis of the inner conducting cover in low-power thrusters operating under multi-mode conditions.

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