SITAEL HC1 Low-Current Hollow Cathode

Low-Current Hollow Cathode Evaluation

An experimental investigation of the operating characteristics of 3.2 mm diameter orificed hollow cathodes was conducted to examine low-current and low flow rate operation. Cathode power was minimized with low orifice aspect ratio and the use of an enclosed keeper. Cathode flow rate requirements were proportional to orifice diameter and the inverse of the orifice length. Cathode temperature pro...

Parametric Investigation of Orifice Aspect-ratio on Low Current Hollow Cathode Power Consumption

As part of an effort to develop efficient hollow cathodes for the International Space Station and low power electric propulsion systems, the effects of orifice length-to-diameter aspect-ratio on the performance of 0.5 to 2 A hollow cathodes were examined to compare with previous experiments and a recently developed model. Cathodes were constructed with nominally identical orifice diameters and ...

Ignition and Early Operating Characteristics of a Low- Current C12A7 Hollow Cathode

Calcium aluminate electride 12CaO-7Al2O3:4e(e.g., C12A7:e-) shows promise as a low temperature electron emitter for hollow cathodes in spacecraft electric propulsion, but the material’s basic performance limits remain poorly understood, including an exact value for work function. As a supplement to a companion paper examining C12A7:eemission in a planar close-spaced diode configuration in vacuu...

Development of Hollow Cathodes for Space Electric Propulsion at Sitael

Hollow cathodes are electron sources used for the gas ionization and the beam neutralization in both ion and Hall effect thrusters (HETs). A reduction of power and propellant consumption from the cathode is particularly needed in small satellite applications, where power and mass budgets are inherently limited. Concurrently, the interest in high-power HETs is increasingly fostered for a number ...

Transition characteristics of low-pressure discharges in a hollow cathode