Hybrid-Particle-In-Cell Simulation of Backsputtered Carbon Transport in the Near-Field Plume of a Hall Thruster

Choi, Maria ; Yim, John T ; Williams, George J ; Herman, Daniel A ; Gilland, James H

关键词: HALL THRUSTERS;    CARBON;    EROSION;    MAGNETIC SHIELDING;    COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION;    HOLLOW CATHODES;    BORON NITRIDES;    GRAPHITE;    ELECTRIC PROPULSION;    VACUUM;    WALLS;   

RP-ID  :  NASA/TM-2018-219719,IEPC-2017-537,E-19447,GRC-E-DAA-TN48798

学科分类：航空航天科学

美国|英语

来源: NASA Technical Reports Server

【 摘 要 】

Magnetic shielding has eliminated boron nitride erosion as the life limiting mechanism in a Hall thruster but has resulted in erosion of the front magnetic field pole pieces. Recent experiments show that the erosion of graphite pole covers, which are added to protect the magnetic field pole pieces, causes carbon to redeposit on other surfaces, such as boron nitride discharge channel and cathode keeper surfaces. As a part of the risk-reduction activities for Advanced Electric Propulsion System thruster development, this study models transport of backsputtered carbon from the graphite front pole covers and vacuum facility walls. Fluxes, energy distributions, and redeposition rates of backsputtered carbon on the anode, discharge channel, and graphite cathode keeper surfaces are predicted.