Hall effect thruster and a space vehicle including such a thruster

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018022475-A1
Application number	US-201615547360-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 28, 2016
Priority date	Jan 30, 2015
Publication date	Jan 25, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A Hall effect thruster arranged inside a wall and including a magnetic circuit and an electric circuit including an anode, a first cathode, and a voltage source. The magnetic circuit and the electric circuit are arranged in such a manner as to generate magnetic and electric fields around the wall. In every meridian section, the magnetic circuit presents an upstream magnetic pole and a downstream magnetic pole arranged at the surface of the wall and spaced apart from each other; and the anode and the first cathode are situated on either side of the upstream magnetic pole.

First claim

1 . A Hall effect thruster for developing thrust along a thrust axis and comprising:
a magnetic circuit for generating a magnetic field; and an electric circuit comprising an anode, a first cathode, and a voltage source for emitting electrons via at least the first cathode and attracting electrons via the anode; wherein:
the thruster is arranged inside a wall formed around the thrust axis;
the magnetic circuit and the electric circuit are arranged so as to generate magnetic and electric fields around the wall; and
in all sections parallel to the thrust axis and perpendicular to the wall:
the magnetic circuit presents an upstream magnetic pole and a downstream magnetic pole arranged substantially at the surface of the wall and spaced apart from each other; and
the anode and the first cathode are situated on either side of the upstream magnetic pole.

2 . The thruster according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic circuit is arranged in such a manner that the magnetic field is oriented in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the surface of the wall, next to the upstream magnetic pole.

3 . The thruster according to claim 1 , wherein the electric circuit also includes a second cathode arranged axially between the upstream magnetic pole and the downstream magnetic pole.

4 . The thruster according to claim 1 , wherein the electric circuit also includes an additional cathode arranged axially downstream from the downstream magnetic pole.

5 . The thruster according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage source is controllable, it being possible to reverse the voltage of the source in order to reverse the thrust of the thruster.

6 . The thruster according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic circuit and/or the electric circuit is/are arranged in such a manner as to generate a non-axisymmetric magnetic and/or electric field around the wall.

7 . A space vehicle including at least one Hall effect thruster according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Safran Aircraft Engines

Inventors

• Marchandise Frederic Raphael Jean
• Vial Vanessa
• Zurbach Stephan

Classifications

• F03H1/0062 Primary

  grid-less with an applied magnetic field · CPC title

• F03H1/0012

  Means for supplying the propellant · CPC title

• F03H1/0068

  with a central channel, e.g. end-Hall type · CPC title

• H05H1/54 Primary

  Plasma accelerators · CPC title

• F03H1/0006 Primary

  Details applicable to different types of plasma thrusters (arrangements specially adapted for fitting plasma engines in or to cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/413) · CPC title