Recent interest in solar electric orbit transfer vehicles (SEOTV's) has prompted a reevaluation of pulsed magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster systems due to their ease of power scaling and reduced test facility requirements. In this work the use of externally heated cathodes was examined in order to extend the lifetime of these thrusters to the 1000 to 3000 hours required for SEOTV missions. A pulsed MPD thruster test facility was assembled, including a pulse-forming network (PFN), ignitor supply and propellant feed system. Results of cold cathode tests used to validate the facility, PFN, and propellant feed system design are presented, as well as a preliminary evaluation of externally heated impregnated tungsten cathodes. The cold cathode thruster was operated on both argon and nitrogen propellants at peak discharge power levels up to 300 kW. The results confirmed proper operation of the pulsed thruster test facility, and indicated that large amounts of gas were evolved from the BaO-CaO-Al2O3 cathodes during activation. Comparison of the expected space charge limited current with the measured vacuum current when using the heated cathode indicate that either that a large temperature difference existed between the heater and the cathode or that the surface work function was higher than expected.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Evaluation of externally heated pulsed MPD thruster cathodes


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    International Electric Propulsion Conference ; 1993 ; Seattle, WA, United States


    Publication date :

    1993-12-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





    Pulsed MPD Thruster Systems Analysis and Heated Cathodes

    Domonkos, M. T. / AIAA | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1994


    Pulsed MPD Thruster Systems Analysis and Heated Cathodes

    Domonkos, M. T. / AIAA | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1994


    HALL THRUSTER WITH EXTERNALLY DRIVEN OSCILLATIONS

    Raitses, Y. / Romadanov, I. / Smolyvakov, A. et al. | TIBKAT | 2019


    Hall thruster with externally driven oscillations

    Raitses, Yevgeny / Romadanov, Ivan / Simmonds, Jacob et al. | AIAA | 2019