Numerical Life Qualification of Ion Thruster’s Ion Optics using the JIEDI Tool

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The JIEDI (JAXA’s Ion Engine Development Initiative) tool has been developed to assess the ion acceleration grid erosion of an ion thruster. The sensitivity analysis of the input parameters of the JIEDI tool is conducted in this paper. We compare the simulation results of the JIEDI tool and show that it successfully reproduces the full lifetime test of the μ10 prototype model. Through sensitivity analysis, we found that the sticking factor is the most sensitive input parameter when estimating the accelerator grid erosion and electron backstreaming time. For the worst case scenario of grid erosion (without re-deposition), the uncertainty in the neutral mass flow rate through grid holes is important when estimating the accelerator grid erosion. A 30% change in the neutral mass flow rate caused by a 6% change in the propellant utilization efficiency, corresponds to about a 20% change in the accelerator grid mass loss as well as the increasing rate of minimum potential on the axis of the ion optics. In contrast to the accelerator grid erosion, the uncertainties in the discharge voltage and grid gap (that affect the trajectory of the mainstream ions), are important when estimating decelerator grid erosion. A 40% change in the discharge voltage corresponds to about a 90% change in the decelerator grid mass loss. In addition, a 30% change in the grid gap between the screen grid and the accelerator grid corresponded to about a 40% change in the decelerator grid mass loss.