2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Study on performance improvement of a microwave discharge ion engine by dynamic control of internal plasma
Project/Area Number |
23560962
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
Section | 一般 |
Research Field |
Aerospace engineering
|
Research Institution | Nishinippon Institute of Technology |
Principal Investigator |
|
Project Period (FY) |
2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
|
Keywords | 推進・エンジン / 航空宇宙工学 / ロケット / 宇宙推進 / イオンエンジン / マイクロ波放電 |
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
In this study, a microwave discharge ion engine (5cm in diameter) with variable magnetic field was fabricated and its performance tests were carried out. A movement mechanism of the movable magnets and the control circuit of the mechanism to change the internal magnetic field of the ion engine were developed to construct the ion engine. On the experimental parameters of Xe gas flow rate, movable magnet position and input microwave power, the performance tests were carried out using two kinds of grids made of fine carbon or molybdenum and were different in opening ratio. In these performance tests, the plasma ignition performance of the ion engine was remarkably improved by changing the background magnetic field with the movable magnet. Furthermore, the change of the inner plasma shape of the ion engine and extracted ion beam current from it were observed.
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Free Research Field |
プラズマ工学
|