Study of the performance dependence on the magnetic configuration in the discharge chamber of the microwave discharge ion engine

• Project/Area Number: 16K06896
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Aerospace engineering
• Research Institution: Nishinippon Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Takao Yoshiyuki 西日本工業大学, 工学部, 教授 (60206711)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
• Keywords: マイクロ波放電 / イオンエンジン / 磁場可変型 / 宇宙電気推進 / 航空宇宙工学 / 推進・エンジン / 磁場可変

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A microwave discharge ion thruster uses the electron cyclotron resonance phenomenon for plasma production in its discharge chamber with a background magnetic field and therefore the performance of the engine is affected by the magnetic configuration. In this work, a 5cm size microwave discharge ion engine of two-dimensional background magnetic field variable type is developed. The background magnetic field in its cylindrical discharge chamber is generated and is changed with static magnets and movable 6 permanent magnets which move in axial and radial directions of the discharge chamber. The ion beam current measurements were carried out with the ion engine to investigate its performance dependence on the background magnetic configuration.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

マイクロ波放電型イオンエンジンはJAXA(ISAS)が開発した世界的にユニークな電気推進機であり，「はやぶさ」でその優秀さを証明した．そこで今後，日本で様々なスケールのエンジンの新開発が予想される．本研究成果は，このタイプのイオンエンジンの放電室内プラズマの形状を制御する研究であり，エンジンサイズの変更や推力可変型のイオンエンジン開発の基礎データとなる．また，プラズマ生成に熱陰極を使用しないので，寿命や不純物混入の問題を低減出来，様々な分野でのイオン源開発にプラズマ工学的な新しい知見を与えるものである．

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Development of Microwave Discharge Ion Engine with Magnetic Field Arranged by Mover Permanent Magnets to Axial and Radial Directions (2019)
  • Author(s): Yoshiyuki Takao, Ranma Kitou, Ryuuya Tujimoto, Ryuuji Isayama and Rakuraku Kyo
  • Journal Title: Advances in applied plasma science Volume: 12 Pages: 70-70
• [Presentation] Development of Microwave Discharge Ion Engine of Variable Magnetic Field Type with Moving Permanent Magnets to Axial and Radial Directions (2019)
  • Author(s): Yoshiyuki TAKAO, Ranma KITOU, Ryuya TUJIMOTO
  • Organizer: Joint Symposium: The 32nd International Symposium on Space Technology and Science, and The 9th Nano-Satellite Symposium, Fukui, Japan, June 15-21, 2019.
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Development of Microwave Discharge Ion Engine with Magnetic Field Arranged by Mover Permanent Magnets to Axial and Radial Directions (2019)
  • Author(s): Yoshiyuki TAKAO, Ranma KITOU, Ryuya TUJIMOTO, Ryuji ISAYAMA, Rakuraku KYO
  • Organizer: The 12th International Symposium on Applied Plasma Science, Yamanashi, Japan, September 24- 28 , 2019．
• [Presentation] Development of Microwave Discharge Ion Engine Having Magnetic Field ControI Mechanism (2019)
  • Author(s): Yoshiyuki TAKAO, Ranma KITOU, Ryuuya TUJIMOTO, Yuuki INOGUCHI, Koutaro KUMANO
  • Organizer: The 26th Annual Meeting of IAPS/ The 12th International Workshop on Plasma Application and Hybrid Functionally Materials, Okinawa, March 8- 11, 2019.
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 直行移動磁石による背景磁場可変型イオンエンジンの開発 (2018)
  • Author(s): 木藤蘭真，辻本龍弥、鷹尾良行
  • Organizer: 第62回宇宙科学連合技術連合講演会、日本航空宇宙学会
• [Presentation] Development of Microwave discharge Ion Engine of Variable Magnetic Field Type with Mover Permanent Magnets (2018)
  • Author(s): Yoshiyuki TAKAO, Yuki MOTOKAWA, Keita NASU
  • Organizer: The 25th Annual Meeting of IAPS/ The 11th International Workshop on Plasma Application and Hybrid Functionally Materials, Hanoi, March 9- 12, 2018.
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Study of Magnetic Field Configuration in an Ion Engine of Variable Magnetic Field Type (2017)
  • Author(s): Yoshiyuki TAKAO, Shinichiro TAKASAKI and Yuuki NAKAMINE
  • Organizer: The 24th Annual Meeting of IAPS / The 10th International Workshop on Plasma Application and Hybrid Functionally Materials, Hanoi, March 10~13, 2017.
  • Place of Presentation: ハノイ、ベトナム
  • Year and Date: 2017-03-10
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Performance of Variable Magnetic Field Ion Engine of Microwave Discharge Type (2017)
  • Author(s): Yoshiyuki TAKAO, Yuki MOTOKAWA, Kaka HAKU
  • Organizer: The 31th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science, Ehime Matsuyama, Japan, July 3-9, 2017.
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Design of Microwave Discharge Ion Engine with Biaxial Movable Magnets (2017)
  • Author(s): Yoshiyuki TAKAO, Yuki MOTOKAWA, Keita NASU
  • Organizer: The 11th International Symposium on Applied Plasma Science, WARSAW, POLAND, September 11- 25 , 2017．
  • Int'l Joint Research