离子推力器放电室参数在线优化实验研究

On-Line Adjustments Based Optimization of Discharge Chamber Parameters on Ion Thruster

关键词:  离子推力器  放电室  在线调节  步进电机  多维优化

Key words:  Ion thruster  Discharge chamber  On-line adjustments  Stepping motor  Multi-parameter optimization

摘要:

为了改进氙离子推力器传统优化实验方法，针对环切场放电室设计多维优化调节机构，通过步进电机配合电磁铁实现放电室设计参数的在线实时调节。实验中在线调节放电室长径比、中间磁极靴位置、阴极顶位置等参数，得到了放电室性能影响规律，经迭代实验获取了优化后的放电室构型及磁场参数。优化后的推力器性能曲线“膝点”较正交实验结果更加靠后，在工质利用率80%～90%区间内，束离子电离能耗低于正交实验优化结果。在线优化实验方法极大缩短了离子推力器设计周期，降低研制成本，并弥补了传统方法需多次破空导致参数一致性差的不足。

Abstract:

In order to ameliorate the xenon ion thruster optimization method， multi-parameter optimization setup was designed based on ring-cusp xenon ion thruster and on-line adjustments of design parameters of discharge chamber were realized through stepping motors and electromagnet. Aspect ratio， intermediate magnet pole position， main cathode position， etc were regulated while effects of parameters on discharge performance were concluded. Optimized configuration and magnetic field were obtained after iterative experiments. Comparisons have demonstrated that performance curve knee point of on-line adjustments is rearward than that of orthogonal experiments， and discharge cost is lower as well in propellant utilization efficiency range of 80%～90%. On-line adjustments based optimization method greatly shortens the ion thrusters’ design cycles， reduces development costs， and eliminates the defects of poor parameters consistency caused by breaking vacuum in traditional methods.