LIPS-100离子推力器挡板通道面积优化研究

Optimization of the Baffle Aperture Area of LIPS-100 Ion Thruster

发散场离子推力器挡板通道面积显著影响进入放电室的原初电子能量和密度分布,因此成为影响放电室性能的关键因素之一。为了提高放电稳定性、降低阳极电压和放电功耗,在理论模型指导下,利用试验手段开展了LIPS-100离子推力器挡板通道面积的优化,通过对不同挡板直径和阴极极靴直径的组合试验,获得了优化的挡板通道面积,其值比优化前减小约19%。优化后的试验结果表明,在1~20 mN宽范围工作过程中,阳极电压基本保持在38 V以下,降低了约4 V;阳极电压振荡值降低约一半,在6~15 V之间;20 mN额定工况下的放电功率降低10 W左右。阳极电压降低使得计算分析的推力器屏栅极寿命比优化前提高了50%以上。

The energy and density distribution of primary electron injected into discharge chamber are heavily influenced by the baffle aperture area,therefore it is a vital factor affected the performance of discharge chamber.For enhancing discharge stability,reducing anode voltage and discharge consumption,baffle aperture area of LIPS-100 ion thruster is optimized by tests under theory instruction.Ultimately,the optimized baffle aperture area is achieved by composite test with baffles and cathode magnetic poles with different diameter and its magnitude is diminished in 19%comparing before improvements.The test result shows that anode voltage is under 38 V about 4 V reduced,voltage oscillation declined to 6~15 V and discharge power consumption reduced about 10 W at 20 mN operating point.The calculation shows that the lifetime of the screen grid of LIPS-100 ion thruster extends to 0.5 times more than before optimization for anode voltage reduced.