Channel length effects in the Hall thruster
Abstract
The dependence of the propellant utilization on the channel length in the Hall thruster is examined theoretically. It is shown that, if the wall losses per unit of channel length increase when the channel length increases, the dependence of the propellant utilization on the channel length is not monotonic. For high values of the mass flow rate the propellant utilization first increases and then decreases when the channel length increases. These predictions of the theory agree with experimental results. Also studied is the effect of the channel length on the electron temperature, and, as a result, on the ionization and the propellant utilization.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- October 2000
- Bibcode:
- 2000APS..DPPBM1002C