Improving the performance of electrodeless plasma thrusters for space propulsion

A Tohoku College researcher has elevated the efficiency of a high-power electrodeless plasma thruster, transferring us one step nearer to deeper explorations into space.

Improvements in terrestrial transportation applied sciences, similar to automobiles, trains, and plane, have pushed historic applied sciences and industries up to now; now, an identical breakthrough is happening in space because of electrical propulsion know-how.

Electrical propulsion is a method using electromagnetic fields to speed up a propellant and to generate thrust that propels a spacecraft. Area businesses have pioneered electrical propulsion know-how as the way forward for space exploration.

Already, a number of space missions have efficiently been accomplished utilizing electrical propulsion units, similar to gridded ion thrusters and Corridor thrusters. Solar energy is transformed into thrust power when the propellant turns into ionized, i.e., a plasma, and will get accelerated by electromagnetic fields. But, the electrodes needed for these units restrict their lifetime, since they get uncovered to and broken by the plasma, particularly at a high-power stage.

To bypass this, scientists have turned to electrodeless plasma thrusters. One such know-how harnesses radio frequency (rf) to generate plasma. An antenna emits radio waves right into a cylindrical chamber to create plasma, the place a magnetic nozzle channels and accelerates the plasma to generate thrust. MN rf plasma thrusters, or helicon thrusters as they’re generally identified, supply simplicity, operational flexibility, and a doubtlessly excessive thrust-to-power ratio.

However the growth of MN rf plasma thrusters has been stymied by the conversion effectivity of the rf energy to thrust power. Early experiments generated single digit conversion charges, however newer research have reached a modest final result of 20%.

In a current research printed in Scientific Studies, Professor Kazunori Takahashi, from Tohoku College’s Division of Electrical Engineering, has achieved a 30% conversion effectivity.

Whereas mature electric propulsion units typically use xenon gasoline, which is pricey and tough to provide in ample portions, the present 30% effectivity was obtained with argon propellant. This means {that a} MN rf plasma thruster would cut back the associated fee and the useful resource load from the Earth.

“Making use of a cusp-type magnetic discipline inhibited the power loss that usually happens to the plasma supply wall,” Takahashi mentioned. “The breakthrough opens the door to advances in high-power space transportation know-how.”