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Integration Test of the High Voltage Hall Accelerator System ComponentsNASA Glenn Research Center is developing a 4 kilowatt-class Hall propulsion system for implementation in NASA science missions. NASA science mission performance analysis was completed using the latest high voltage Hall accelerator (HiVHAc) and Aerojet-Rocketdyne's state-of-the-art BPT-4000 Hall thruster performance curves. Mission analysis results indicated that the HiVHAc thruster out performs the BPT-4000 thruster for all but one of the missions studied. Tests of the HiVHAc system major components were performed. Performance evaluation of the HiVHAc thruster at NASA Glenn's vacuum facility 5 indicated that thruster performance was lower than performance levels attained during tests in vacuum facility 12 due to the lower background pressures attained during vacuum facility 5 tests when compared to vacuum facility 12. Voltage-Current characterization of the HiVHAc thruster in vacuum facility 5 showed that the HiVHAc thruster can operate stably for a wide range of anode flow rates for discharge voltages between 250 and 600 volts. A Colorado Power Electronics enhanced brassboard power processing unit was tested in vacuum for 1,500 hours and the unit demonstrated discharge module efficiency of 96.3% at 3.9 kilowatts and 650 volts. Stand-alone open and closed loop tests of a VACCO TRL 6 xenon flow control module were also performed. An integrated test of the HiVHAc thruster, brassboard power processing unit, and xenon flow control module was performed and confirmed that integrated operation of the HiVHAc system major components. Future plans include continuing the maturation of the HiVHAc system major components and the performance of a single-string integration test.
Document ID
20140017776
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Kamhawi, Hani
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Haag, Thomas
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Huang, Wensheng
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Pinero, Luis
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Peterson, Todd
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Dankanich, John
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
December 30, 2014
Publication Date
October 6, 2013
Subject Category
Ground Support Systems And Facilities (Space)
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN11710
IEPC-2013-445
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Electric Propulsion Conference (IEPC)
Location: Washington, DC
Country: United States
Start Date: October 6, 2013
End Date: October 10, 2013
Sponsors: Electric Rocket Propulsion Society, George Washington Univ., National Science Foundation
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 346620.04.08.01.01.01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Hall propulsion system
NASA Science Missions
Power Processing Unit
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