About the project
Hall thrusters efficiently propel many spacecraft but offer limited thrust flexibility. This project aims to extend their operational range, from higher thrust to high fuel efficiency. Using thruster databases, optimisation, simulations, and experimental validation, you'll investigate thruster geometries and alternative propellants, including dynamic propellant switching, to improve mission adaptability.
Hall ion thrusters are the dominate type of propulsion used in space, used on the majority of spacecraft as their primary propulsion system. This includes many different spacecraft missions, from Earth observation constellations, geostationary satellites, to interplanetary missions. Thanks to their higher ion velocities, they are considerably more fuel efficient than chemical rockets, leading to more capable systems that can complete larger orbital changes than alternatives.
However, the operational range of Hall thrusters is relatively small, limited to lower thrusts than chemical propulsion systems, which is limiting the spacecraft’s ability to dynamically respond to mission changes, i.e. move quickly in response to mission changes. In this project you'll investigate extending the operational range of Hall ion thrusters, in terms of extending a given Hall thruster to operate towards a higher thrust operation, whilst still having the capability for fuel-efficient high ion velocity operation as well.
This will be completed using our database of existing Hall thrusters, investigating their operational range and capabilities, identifying particular thruster geometries (channel diameter, width, etc.), that can lead to potentially lead to greater operational range. You'll also investigate the potential of using different gaseous propellants, including the ability to switch dynamically the propellants to further extend the range as the mission scenarios requires. Work will be based on a data optimisation investigation, followed by Hall thruster simulation, and experimental testing and validation of the thruster.
