Improving the Hall Thruster Global Efficiency over a Wide Flow-Rate Range

Abstract

In this study, a 1.35 kW HEP-100X Hall thruster is used to explore effective methods for improving the global efficiency of a Hall thruster across a wide range of flow rates, from the perspective of optimizing the channel configuration. Experimental and simulation results indicate that an appropriate increase in the length of the straight segment in the variable cross section channel can increase the neutral gas density as well as move the high-gas-density zone toward the channel outlet, thus increasing the ionization rate and moving the main ionization zone outward. At a low flow rate, the propellant utilization efficiency and anode efficiency can be improved by 2.4 and 6.1%, respectively. In addition, compared with a traditional Hall thruster of the same power with a uniform cross section channel, the HEP-100X Hall thruster equipped with the optimal channel exhibits significantly improved performance, and the lower limit of the anode efficiency is increased from 43.3 to 46.6% across a wide range of flow rates. This study resolves the issue of low efficiency of a Hall thruster at a low flow rate and also provides an effective solution for efficient discharge of the Hall thruster across a wide range of flow rates.