document title / titre du document TRP W ORK PLAN ... - emits - ESA

TRP Work Plan 2005-2007
Description of Activities
TEC-SB/7935/dc
12/Feb/09
TRP Reference:
Title:
T601-17MP
Development of a Circular Slit Field Emission Thruster
Slit emitter field-emission electric propulsion systems have significantly improved their performances in terms of controllability
and reliability over the last few decades. The desired higher emission levels would require a 25cm total slit. This considerable
length can be achieved either with a cluster of several short linear emitters, or developing a single circular emitter with a radius
of about 4cm. The circular configuration would present several advantages. First of all, it would eliminate emission wing
effects; these perturbations were observed since the earlier works on field-emission, and counteracting measures were taken
introducing field suppressors or complex compensating negative electrode geometries. A co-axial configuration would
certainly enhance thrust homogeneity and help localizing the thrust vector. Besides, the assembly would be more compact,
and the localization of the various subcomponents (heater, reservoir and feeding lines) could be optimised. Finally, the
neutralizer could be ideally placed on the center axis of the oftware , thus providing optimal neutralization of the ion beam and
reduced divergence angles. The purpose of the proposed activity is: Assess the technological complexity involved in the
manufacturing and machining process of a 1um wide, 25cm long circular slit emitter; Design a complete circular slit 5mN
FEEP assembly (including neutralizer); Manufacture a breadboard model; Perform a complete characterization test campaign.
Deliverables:
Technology assessment report. Design report for a 5mN circular slit FEEP model. Thruster breadboard model.
Characterization test reports.
Current TRL: TRL1 Target TRL: TRL2-3 Application Need/Date: TRL5 >2009-2010
Application/Mission: EO, Science, .. Contract Duration: 18 months
SW Clause : - Dossier0 Ref.: T-1013
Consistency with Harmonisation
Roadmap and Conclusions:
TRP Reference: T601-31MP
Title:
Advanced Technologies Demonstrator for Very High-Power Hall-Effect Thrusters
Future Hall-effect SW (HET) generations are technology limited: magnetic circuit, permanent magnets, high temperature
materials, erosion resistant discharge channel, etc...Current high-power HET developments could simultaneously benefit from
these new technologies in terms of mass, volume, lifetime, and performance. This activity will consist on: Phase I: Preliminary
design of a 25 kW Hall-effect oftware (HET) using available scaling rules based on constant plasma density inside the
acceleration channel. Functional analyses and performance simulations will be done to generate the expected performance
envelop in discharge voltage and xenon mass-flow-rate. Based on the results of preliminary mechanical and thermal analyses
it will be identified the technological improvements that would be required to manufacture and test a realistic 25 kW HET
demonstrator while minimising mass, volume, and ceramic channel erosion. Phase II: Trading-off the various potential
technologies and associated manufacturing and assembling issues, solutions to the technological improvements identified in
Phase I will be proposed. In order to be able to test these new technologies, it is proposed to integrate them a smaller-scale
SW as a demonstrator (5 kW power level). The use of a smaller demonstrator solves the problem of available vacuum test
facilities and allows to put forward the added value of these new technologies for current power-class HETs. A specific test
campaign shall be defined and performed for each of the technologies to be demonstrated.
Deliverables:
Technical note (prel. design/performance report and mechanical/thermal analyses for 25 kW HET; critical technol./manuf.
processes; updated design + critical technol. for 5 kW demonstrator; technology demo test plan/results). Demonstrator.
Current TRL: TRL2 Target TRL: TRL3-4 Application Need/Date: TRL5 >2009
High power telecommunication missions
(>2012) and interplanetary missions for
Application/Mission:
Exploration and science (>2012) will be
Contract Duration: 24 months
the main objectives for this technology.
SW Clause : - Dossier0 Ref.: T-968
Consistency with Harmonisation
Roadmap and Conclusions:
Page 197 of 227