Performance characteristics of a 5 kW laboratory Hall thruster

TLDR

A 5 kW class Hall effect thruster was jointly developed by the University of Michigan and the US Air Force Research Laboratory. The thruster was designed to enable diagnostic studies of a 5 kW Hall effect thruster meeting IHPRPT specifications. Its adjustable configuration permits interior diagnostic access and exploration of different geometries. At nominal conditions the thruster achieved 5 kW with a 2326 s specific impulse, 246 mN thrust, and 57 % efficiency, comparable to commercial development levels.

Abstract

Abstract : The University of Michigan and United States Air Force Research Laboratory have jointly developed a 5 kW class Hall effect thruster. This thruster was developed to investigate, with a variety of diagnostics, a thruster similar to that specified by IHPRPT goals. The configuration of this thruster is adjustable so that diagnostic access to the interior of the thruster can be provided as necessary, and to allow for the exploration of various thruster geometries. At nominal conditions, the thruster was designed to operate at 5 kW with a predicted specific impulse of 2200 s. The actual operating parameters at 5 kW were 2326 s specific impulse, with 246 mN of thrust at an efficiency of 57%. These conditions are comparable to those of thrusters under commercial development, making the information learned from the study of this thruster applicable to the understanding of its commercial counterparts.