39th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit · 2003 · 28 citations · 3 references
EngineeringAerospace EngineeringPhysicsAerospace StructuresPlasma PhysicsPropulsionAccelerator PhysicsIon PropulsionPlasma PropulsionPlasma SimulationErosion MechanismsFailure MechanismsGrid ErosionGridded Ion ThrustersIon OpticsIon ThrustersOperating ConditionsStructural Failure Modes
Simulations of the erosion processes for two proposed sets of ion thruster grids for the NEXT project are presented. Structural failure and electron backstreaming due to accelerator grid erosion are discussed as two possible failure mechanisms of these grid sets. The TAG grid set was seen to outperform the NSTAR grid set both in terms of margin against electron backstreaming and accelerator grid mass loss for a variety of operating points. An investigation into the possibility of reducing the accelerator grid voltage magnitude for the TAG grid set showed improved propellant throughput capability.
3
NEXT: NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster
Michael Patterson, John Foster, Thomas Haag et al. · 2002 · 85 citations
Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering +17