Minimum emission current of indium-field emission electric propulsion thruster

作者：Duan Junyi; Kang Xiaoming^*; Zhao Wansheng

来源：Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 2010, 82(5): 284-287.

DOI：10.1108/00022661011092929

• Chemical elements and inorganic compounds
• Flow
• Electric current
• Emission
• Evaporation

Purpose - Field emission electric propulsion (FEEP) thruster is a type of electric propulsion based on space proven indium liquid metal ion sources The lifetime of FEEP thruster limits its application in space A better method to improve its lifetime is the reduction of emission current This paper aims to discuss the minimum emission current of operating FEEP thrusters
Design/methodology/approach - In this work theoretical models including fluid flow model and ion formation model are analyzed Current densities of these models are discussed and the minimum emission current is calculated
Findings - There are few equilibrium states under low emission current conditions However the minimum emission current is the only stable state at which the FEEP thruster can operate Research limitations/implications - This analysis is mainly based on the needle indium FEEP which is compared indirectly with experiments of gallium
Practical implications - This paper attempts to help designers choose appropriate electric parameters to improve the lifetime of FEEP
riginality/value - By introducing and analyzing theoretical models this paper calculates the minimum emission current for stable operation of FEEP

• 出版日期2010
• 单位上海交通大学