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Updated: May 14, 2026
12:22
Optimization, Test and Diagnostics of Miniaturized Hall Thrusters
Published on: February 16, 2019
Characterization of Hall effect thruster propellant distributors with flame visualization.
1High-Power Electric Propulsion Laboratory, Georgia Institute of Technology, 625 Lambert St. NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30318, USA.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|February 8, 2013
Summary
A novel flame luminosity technique quantifies Hall effect thruster propellant distributor uniformity. This method accurately identifies manufacturing defects and characterizes flow, improving propellant utilization for space propulsion systems.
Area of Science:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Plasma Physics
- Combustion Science
Background:
- Hall effect thrusters (HETs) are crucial for in-space propulsion.
- Propellant distributor uniformity directly impacts HET performance and propellant utilization efficiency.
- Current characterization methods for distributors can be complex and time-consuming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate a novel, quantitative method for characterizing Hall effect thruster propellant distributors.
- To assess the azimuthal number density uniformity of propellant flow.
- To demonstrate the technique's capability in identifying manufacturing defects and resolving flow non-uniformities.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing flame luminosity from a premixed propane-air flame anchored at the distributor exit plane.
- Quantitative measurement of azimuthal number density uniformity via photographic analysis of flame luminosity.
- Comparison with in-vacuum pressure measurements for validation.
- Application to distributors with and without manufacturing defects.
Main Results:
- The flame luminosity technique successfully quantified azimuthal uniformity, correlating with pressure measurements.
- The method identified a manufacturing defect and characterized its impact on flow uniformity.
- High spatial resolution (48.2-76.1 μm) allowed for detailed non-uniformity analysis.
- Achieved standard deviations for uniformity ranged from 0.108 to 0.708 (normalized).
Conclusions:
- Flow visualization using flame luminosity is a valid and effective technique for propellant distributor characterization.
- This method offers a practical approach to assess and improve propellant utilization in Hall effect thrusters.
- The technique's sensitivity allows for the detection of subtle manufacturing flaws and their effects on flow patterns.
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