High Specific Impulse Thermal Arc Jet Thrustor Technology. Part 1. Performance of Hall Arc Jets with Lithium Propellant
Abstract
The objective of this program is to develop the technology of efficient electric arc jet thrustors for high specific impulse and long life. It is aimed particularly at power levels up to 300 kW, specific impulse between 1500 and 4000 sec, and overall efficiency greater than 60% for durations of 500 hrs. The use of lithium in this specific impulse range requires energies per particle which are not achievable by the electrothermal arc-heating process. Thus, it is necessary to employ, in addition, electromagnetic acceleration processes. The present approach has relied predominantly on Hall current interactions with an applied magnetic field. Lithium thrustors have been tested at power levels up to 40 kW. Thrust efficiencies (neglecting power dissipated in the magnet coil) of 70% at specific impulse of 5000 sec, 60% at 4000 sec, 45% at 3000 sec and 30% at 2000 sec have been measured in a test chamber at pressures of the order of .01 mm Hg. Other tests demonstrated that test chamber pressures between .01 and .00001 mm Hg have little effect on performance. A 10-hr endurance test was made with a 10-kW thrustor operating at an specific impulse of about 5000 sec with an efficiency of 53%.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0465068
Entities
People
- G. L. Cann
- L. R. Gallagher
- R. A. Moore
Organizations
- Xerox