Initial investigation of alternative propellants for use with a low-power cylindrical hall thruster

Tisdall, Peter, Andrew, Dyer, Edward, Ryan, Charles, Garcia, Vincent and Demaire, Alain (2018) Initial investigation of alternative propellants for use with a low-power cylindrical hall thruster. In Space Propulsion 2018. 12 pp .

Abstract

This paper describes the investigations into the useof alternative propellants for Hall Effect thrusters at the University of Southampton. A broad comparative study into all non-synthetic, non-radioactive atomic elements has been undertaken with an aim to identifying potentially viable alternative propellants to the current leading propellant, xenon. The characteristics of 81 elements, from hydrogen to bismuth, are examined with particular focus on five criteria; atomic mass, ionisation energy, heating power, cost, and toxicity. Krypton, nitrogen, oxygen, lead, bismuth, sodium, iodine, calcium, selenium, cadmium, zinc, and magnesium have all been identified as potential propellants. The results of recent experiments to characterise the performance of the CHT-100 thruster developed at the University of Southampton using krypton propellant are also presented. The peak performance displayed by the thruster was T = 5.43mN, Isp = 1254 s, at an anode power of 258 W and efficiency of 13%. This characterisation forms the baseline for further investigations into alternative propellants.

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