Radial scale effect on the performance of low-power cylindrical Hall plasma thrusters

Investigation of the radial scale effect on low-power cylindrical Hall thrusters has been undertaken by comparing the thrusters with three different channel diameters of 28, 40, and 50mm. The investigation found that both the anode efficiency and the thrust of the larger thruster are higher as the anode power is raised. On the other hand, higher current and propellant utilizations are achieved for the smaller thruster, which is due to higher neutral density and better electron confinement. The large plume angle of the small cylindrical Hall thruster causes thrust loss, resulting in the reduction of anode efficiency. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.