Use of permanent magnets to reduce anode losses in mpd thrusters

Results from previous studies indicate that the anode fall, the principal source of anode heating in MPD thrusters, increases monotonically with the electron Hall parameter calculated from electron temperature, number density, and magnetic field data obtained near the anode. In an attempt to reduce the anode fall by decreasing the local electron Hall parameter, a proof-of-concept test was performed in which an array of 36 permanent magnets were embedded within the anode of a high-power quasisteady MPD thruster to decrease the local azimuthal component of the induced magnetic field. The modified thruster was operated at power levels between 150 kW and 4 MW with argon and helium propellants. Terminal voltage, triple probe, floating probe, and magnetic probe measurements were made to characterize the performance of the thruster with the new anode. Incorporation of the modified anode resulted in a reduction of the anode fall by up to 15 V with argon and 20 V with helium, which corresponded to decreased anode power fractions of 40 and 45% with argon and helium, respectively. © 1994 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.

Duke Scholars

Author Alec Gallimore Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...