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II Congreso Ingenería Aerospacial, Madrid. 24/11/2017. Development and test of HPT-05
II Congreso Ingenería Aerospacial, Madrid. 24/11/2017.
Development and test of HPT-05
©SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. –2017
Development and tests of HPT-05 24/11/2017
Table of contents
Background
The Helicon Plasma Thruster
SENER-UC3M collaboration
The HPT-05 experimental platform development
Performance models
The HPT system overview
The HPT-05 tests
Test facility and diagnostics
Brief summary of tests results
Conclusions and next steps for HPT evolution
©SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. –2017
Development and tests of HPT-05 24/11/2017
A RF signal is generated, amplified and fed into the antenna RFGPU
The emitted RF wave propagates into the plasma where it is absorbed.
Within the chamber, the neutral gas is ionised and heated.
Along the MN, the plasma expands supersonically, increasing thrust capabilities.
The magnetic field is used for plasma confinement, guidance and RF-wave propagation.
Introduction to Helicon technology and its physical processes
Simple, compact, robust, long life time expected.
Flexible and throttlable.
Uses virtually any propellant.
Scalable to high powers (20kW +).
Still, existing prototypes show low efficiency.
Several aspects of HPT physics not fully understood yet.
Why the Helicon Plasma Thruster?
How does a Helicon Plasma Source work?
©SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. –2017
Development and tests of HPT-05 24/11/2017
Jan. 2015 Oct. 2015
Background: SENER-UC3M collaboration
May 2016 Dec. 2016 Mar. 2017
2008-2012:
aaa
2013-2015:
2015:
2015-2017:
2017-2018:
2018-2019:
UC3M-EP2 started its work on Helicon Plasma Sources under the EC-FP7
HPHcom Project.
SENER-UC3M joint effort in the “HPT for Space missions” ESA-GSP project.
UC3M-EP2 EP Test Laboratory available.
Joint venture for the development of the HPT-05 experimental platform.
New agreement for the development of a HPT system breadboard.
GSTP project awarded to increase the technology TRL.
©SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. –2017
Development and tests of HPT-05 24/11/2017
Models predict an efficiency 𝜂𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑚 ≃35%.
For such 𝑇𝑒 values, the utilisation factor 𝜂𝑢 60%.
𝜂𝑒𝑥𝑝=80% and 𝜂𝑑𝑖𝑣=75% are used based on DIMAGNO.
The thrust efficiency would be in the range 𝜂=10%−30%.
The HPT-05 performance models
Preliminary estimation of performance
Based on UC3M-EP2 models:
Plasma-wave interaction code (HELWAVE)
Internal fluid dynamics, ionisation and losses (HELFLU)
External expansion in the magnetic nozzle (DIMAGNO)
Assumptions:
75% RF efficiency at the RFGPU
100% absorption efficiency
𝑇𝑒=5-7eV.
Main results
Teis the main driver for
HPT performances.
Physical design for
proof of concept
©SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. –2017
Development and tests of HPT-05 24/11/2017
Rated at <1 kW @ 13.56 MHz
1.5mg/s Ar
B < 800 G, three coils arrangement, flexible in topology.
The HPT-05 system experimental platform
RF antenna
S1
S2
S3
electromagnets
Plasma plume
©SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. –2017
Development and tests of HPT-05 24/11/2017
Rated at <1 kW @ 13.56 MHz
1.5mg/s Ar
B < 800 G, three coils arrangement, flexible in topology.
The HPT-05 system experimental platform
RF antenna
S1
S2
S3
electromagnets
Plasma plume
©SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. –2017
Development and tests of HPT-05 24/11/2017
The UC3M-EP2 Electric Propulsion Laboratory
Installed by Leybold on December 2015, operative
on March 2016 (funded by Spanish Government)
1.5m inner diameter, 3.5m long.
Pumping speed >37000 l/s Xe
Ultimate pressure (dry) 1e-7 mbar
Operational pressure (20sccmXe) 2e-5 mbar
EP2 Laboratory Vacuum Chamber
Plasma diagnostics and thruster performances evaluation
Characterisation of the plasma plume properties: 𝑛, 𝑇𝑒 , 𝜙, 𝐼𝐸𝐷𝐹, 𝐸𝐸𝐷𝐹, ion current, etc.
Intrusive probes: LP, RFCLP, FP, RPA.
Non-intrusive optical diagnostics.
Thruster performances
Thrust and thrust efficiency (requires a thrust balance, on-going project).
Plume divergence, IE on the beam wings.
©SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. –2017
Development and tests of HPT-05 24/11/2017
Some results: Parametric analysis: 𝑚, 𝑃𝑅𝐹 , 𝐵
Plasma density increases with 𝑚 and P.
𝑚 threshold that separates low from high
propellant utilisation regimes. (Pointed out in
Ahedo & Navarro, PoP 20, 2013).
Propellant utilisation increases with P.
©SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. –2017
Development and tests of HPT-05 24/11/2017
Some results: beam divergence and different antennae
No power coupling on the MN.
Independent of the amount of power.
MN helps to collimate the plasma beam.
Double peak, inductive mode, for the
double loop antenna. The profile
depends on the antenna shape.
Single peak for the helical antenna,
and higher current on the beam wings.
𝛼𝑑𝑖𝑣 > 50 (for 95 % of 𝐼𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚)
There is a minimum B field on the MN
to collimate better the beam. Beyond
that there is no gain.
MN OFFMN ON
©SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. –2017
Development and tests of HPT-05 24/11/2017
Some results: beam divergence and different antennae
No power coupling on the MN.
Independent of the amount of power.
MN helps to collimate the plasma beam.
Double peak, inductive mode, for the
double loop antenna. The profile
depends on the antenna shape.
Single peak for the helical antenna,
and higher current on the beam wings.
𝛼𝑑𝑖𝑣 > 50 (for 95 % of 𝐼𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚)
There is a minimum B field on the MN
to collimate better the beam. Beyond
that there is no gain.
MN OFF MN ON
©SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. –2017
Development and tests of HPT-05 24/11/2017
Propulsive performances
Propellant utilisation: 20% Ar (900W), 50% Xe
(extrapolated)
Thrust: 6.6mN (at 500 W)
Thrust efficiency,𝐹2
2 𝑚 𝑃: 2.9% (500W)
Propulsive
performances are
still low
Construction of an evolved HPT-05 platform HPT-05M, performances improvement,
focus on Te increase and understanding of physical mechanisms involved.
Tests of HPT-05M in two different facilities performances assessment
Analysis and design activities aimed to improve performances gain knowledge,
viability and competitiveness
Development of a breadboard model (HPT-0x) for the complete system increase TRL
Conclusions and next steps for HPT evolution
Next steps for HPT evolution
©SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. –2017
Development and tests of HPT-05 24/11/2017
Thanks for your attention
Víctor Gómez
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