Design and Testing of a 200W Hall Effect Thruster

Hall Effect Thrusters (HET) are a prominent form of in-space propulsion devices that operate by ionizing an inert gas propellant to create thrust. Developed in the 1960s, HETs are primarily used in satellite orbit orientation control and deep-space maneuvering missions due to their high specific impulse, high propellant efficiency, and reasonable thrust in comparison to other electric thruster alternatives. The goal of our group is to design, manufacture, and test a low-powered, 200 W Hall Thruster capable of producing thrust with argon propellant. The project is broken into four main sections: the thruster channel, the magnetic circuit, the feed assembly, and the testing apparatus, all of which are custom designed by our team. An issue that occurs often in experimental HET research is the lack of modularity in the thruster’s design, often limiting the propellant type and operational parameters that can be used. To support the initiatives of the Rutgers SPACE Lab, our group has produced a modular hall thruster capable of easily switching the anode distribution plate. This will not only allow for easier cleaning of the thruster channel, but also introduce the ability to test with multiple propellants. The thruster also features an electromagnet system, which allows for variation of the magnetic field strength and broadens the operational parameters which can be used. Future research will utilize this thruster to experiment with molecular propellants, pushing the boundaries of electric propulsion.