HALL-EFFECT THRUSTER ST-25 WITH PERMANENT MAGNET

Abstract

Results of development and experimental tests of Hall-effect Thruster ST-25 are presented. This thruster is intended for application on small space vehicles. With the purpose of decrease of input electric power in the magnetic system of the thruster a permanent magnet is applied. The permanent magnet is located at the base of the central magnetic core. The permanent magnet provides most of the magnetic induction in the accelerating channel of the thruster, while the side magnets provide precise magnetic field adjustment. Laboratory testing of the ST-25 thruster were realized with application of the preheated hollow cathode which is operated in auto mode at the discharge current 0.5 … 0.9 A. In the process of developing the thruster, its laboratory tests were carried out with a laboratory prototype of the Xenon system for storing and supplying a working substance. The laboratory supply system provided the supply of the working gas to the anode unit 0.65 ... 0.90 mg /s and 0.07 ... 0.10 mg / s to the hollow cathode. The characteristics and parameters of the thruster were obtained using a discharge power supply that has the properties of a voltage source and a power source. The discharge power supply is the part of the flight prototype of the power processing unit. Laboratory tests have confirmed the rightness of the technical decisions stopped up in the structure of the thruster. Methodology of the thruster ST-25 start at the use of preheated cathode and flying prototype of the discharge power supply were improved. Possibility of application of such type of Hall Thrusters on space vehicles with the size of on-board electric power of that is limited to the size 200 - 300 W were confirmed.