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https://dx.doi.org/10.25560/10...
Other literature type . 2022
Data sources: Datacite
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The water electrolysis Hall effect Thruster

Authors: Schwertheim, Alexander;

The water electrolysis Hall effect Thruster

Abstract

This study proposes operating a Hall effect Thruster (HET) on the products of in-situ water electrolysis. Oxygen is supplied to the anode and hydrogen to the cathode to mitigating poisoning. In comparison to other alternative HET propellants water is non-toxic, low cost, highly storable, and allows synergies with chemical propulsion systems. The competitiveness of this concept is experimentally tested by simulating, designing, constructing, and operating a thruster optimised for oxygen: the Water ElecTrolysis Hall Effect Thruster (WET-HET). A zero-dimensional particle-in-cell code is used to optimise the device, resulting in a channel width of 5 mm, outer circumference of 25 mm and depth ranging from 35 mm to 60 mm. Iterative magnetic, thermal, and mechanical modelling finalises the design. A hanging pendulum style thrust balance is used to directly measure WET-HET performance. Safety restrictions require krypton rather than hydrogen be used for the cathode. The WET-HET is tested on discharge powers up to 3200 W and oxygen mass flow rates ranging from 0.99 mg/s to 1.85 mg/s. Three different channel depths are tested: 35 mm, 45 mm and 60 mm. The WET-HET is characterised for a range of different magnetic field strengths and for three distinct magnetic topologies. Two channel wall materials were investigated: alumina and boron nitride. The highest thrust measured was 38.63±0.25 mN, with a maximum specific impulse of 4112±36 s and a maximum anode thrust efficiency of 24.4±5.9%. This optimum was found when the WET-HET was operated at 3200 W discharge power, 0.99 mg/s mass flow rate, 35 mm channel depth and a magnetic field that peaked near 600 Gauss. Boron nitride outperformed alumina by approximately 40%. Contrary to expectation, increasing the axial thickness of the magnetic region had little impact on discharge voltage, but led to a reduction in thrust, specific impulse, and thrust efficiency of the device.

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United Kingdom
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Keywords

530, 620

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green