A Study of the Magnetic Field inside the Discharge Chamber of an Ion Thruster

One of the characteristics that ion thrusters are known for is its high efficiency.  In the process of designing an ion thruster the study of the magnetic field alongside the discharge chamber is crucial to achieve optimal efficiency. This work shows the importance of taking into consideration the materials in the vicinities of the magnets as well as the expected intensity of the magnetitic field inside the thrusters in study. The procedures used to study the magnetic field in the open software used are described in this work. The thruster in study is an oversizing done of a previous one, so the desired results are to obtain the ones obtained for the original engine. Keywords: Ion thruster, High efficiency, Magnetic fiel

Design de um Propulsor Iónico para CubeSats

O aparecimento dos Cubesats fez com que um novo panorama se instalasse no setor espacial. O aumento da sua utilização nos últimos anos está relacionado com os avanços tecnológicos a nível da miniaturização dos diversos sistemas associados a estes satélites. A miniaturização dos sistemas propulsivos tem vindo a ser um dos grandes desafios a este nível. Ainda assim, desde a década de 50, têm surgido inúmeros novos tipos de sistemas propulsivos, dividindo-se, hoje em dia, em 3 categorias: sistemas químicos, sistemas elétricos e sistemas sem propelente. Juntamente com estas outras categorias, os sistemas propulsivos elétricos têm-se desenvolvido a um ritmo elevado, de tal modo que, atualmente, existem várias tecnologias diferentes, variando o propelente utilizado, a forma de produzir eletrões e ainda o processo utilizado para criar tração. Os propulsores iónicos são uma das tecnologias mais desenvolvidas dentro da propulsão elétrica. Na presente dissertação foi efetuado o design de um propulsor iónico, e para tal foi necessário realizar estudos relativamente às peças que constituem este sistema, ao campo magnético a ser implementado e aos materiais a utilizar em cada peça constituinte do propulsor. Para o design das peças foi necessário fazer uma revisão bibliográfica do estado da arte dos propulsores iónicos. Tendo isto em conta, foram adaptadas duas configurações existentes e foi feito um sobredimensionamento às mesmas. Todos os designs foram efetuados através do software CATIA. Para o campo magnético existente no motor foi escolhida uma configuração magnética com base em estudos comparativos existentes e essa configuração sido testada através do software FEMM. A validação destes resultados foi feita com base em trabalhos existentes referentes a propulsores MiXI. Através das condições de funcionamento e os objetivos de cada peça foram definidos os materiais constituintes para cada uma delas. Adicionalmente, foi realizado um estudo de mercado de forma a poder adquirir as peças desenhadas para construção do propulsor. A disponibilidade dos materiais no mercado foi também um fator a ter em conta na escolha do material para cada peça.The rise of Cubesats has settled a new paradigm in the space sector. The growth in the amount of this type of satellites in orbit in recent years is due to technological advances in the miniaturization of the various systems associated with it. Miniaturization of propulsive systems has been one of the major challenges at this level. Nevertheless, since the 1950s, numerous new propulsive systems have emerged and are now divided into three main categories: chemical systems, electrical systems and propellantless systems. Along with these other categories, electric propulsive systems have developed at a high rate since then, so much so that today there are several different variations of this concept, with changes in the propellant used, the way electrons are produced, and the process used to create thrust. Regarding the propellant used, ionic propellants are one of the most developed technologies inside electrical propulsion. In the present dissertation, the design of an ion thruster was made, for this to be accomplished, a thorough study was necessary, namely of the parts that make this system, the magnetic field to be implemented and the materials to be used in each part of the thruster. For the part design, it was necessary to make a bibliographical review of the state of the art concerning ion thrusters. On the basis thereof, two existing configurations were adapted and oversized. All designs were made using CATIA software. For the magnetic field present in the motor, a magnetic configuration was chosen based on existing comparative studies, with this configuration being tested using the FEMM software. The validation of the results obtained was based on existing MiXI thrusters’ studies. Based on the expected operating conditions and objectives of each part the constituent materials for each one of them were defined. In addition, a market study was carried out in order to assess where and for what price the thruster parts could be purchased. The availability of each material on the market was also a factor to consider when choosing the material for each part

A Study of the Magnetic Field Inside the Discharge Chamber of an Ion Thruster

One of the characteristics that ion thrusters are known for is its high efficiency.  In the process of designing an ion thruster the study of the magnetic field alongside the discharge chamber is crucial to achieve optimal efficiency. This work shows the importance of taking into consideration the materials in the vicinities of the magnets as well as the expected intensity of the magnetitic field inside the thrusters in study. The procedures used to study the magnetic field in the open software used are described in this work. The thruster in study is an oversizing done of a previous one, so the desired results are to obtain the ones obtained for the original engine. Keywords: Ion thruster, High efficiency, Magnetic fiel