scholarly journals The effect of alternative propellants on the electron drift instability in Hall-effect thrusters: Insight from 2D particle-in-cell simulations

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 063522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivien Croes ◽  
Antoine Tavant ◽  
Romain Lucken ◽  
Roberto Martorelli ◽  
Trevor Lafleur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hall Effect ◽  
Electron Drift ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
Hall Effect Thrusters ◽  
Drift Instability

scholarly journals Axisymmetric Hybrid Plasma Model for Hall Effect Thrusters

Particles ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-324
Author(s):  
Mario Panelli ◽  
Davide Morfei ◽  
Beniamino Milo ◽  
Francesco D’Aniello ◽  
Francesco Battista
Keyword(s):  
Hall Effect ◽  
Electric Propulsion ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Computational Modelling ◽  
Mobility Model ◽  
Plasma Potential ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
Hall Effect Thrusters ◽  
Ion Collisions ◽  
Satellite Applications

Hall Effect Thrusters (HETs) are nowadays widely used for satellite applications because of their efficiency and robustness compared to other electric propulsion devices. Computational modelling of plasma in HETs is interesting for several reasons: it can be used to predict thrusters’ operative life; moreover, it provides a better understanding of the physical behaviour of this device and can be used to optimize the next generation of thrusters. In this work, the discharge within the accelerating channel and near-plume of HETs has been modelled by means of an axisymmetric hybrid approach: a set of fluid equations for electrons has been solved to get electron temperatures, plasma potential and the discharge current, whereas a Particle-In-Cell (PIC) sub-model has been developed to capture the behaviour of neutrals and ions. A two-region electron mobility model has been incorporated. It includes electron–neutral/ion collisions and uses empirical constants, that vary as a continuous function of axial coordinates, to take into account electron–wall collisions and Bohm diffusion/SEE effects. An SPT-100 thruster has been selected for the verification of the model because of the availability of reliable numerical and experimental data. The results of the presented simulations show that the code is able to describe plasma discharge reproducing, with consistency, the physics within the accelerating channel of HETs. A small discrepancy in the experimental magnitude of ions’ expansion, due probably to boundary condition effects, has been found.

Full Particle-In-Cell Simulation Methodology for Axisymmetric Hall Effect Thrusters

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Szabo ◽  
Noah Warner ◽  
Manuel Martinez-Sanchez ◽  
Oleg Batishchev
Keyword(s):  
Hall Effect ◽  
Simulation Methodology ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
Hall Effect Thrusters ◽  
Cell Simulation
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