Current Status of 5A Lab6 Hollow Cathode Life Tests in Lanzhou Institute of Physics, China
The current statuses of lifetime test of LaB6 hollow
cathode at the Lanzhou Institute of Physics (LIP), China, was
described. 5A LaB6 hollow cathode was design for LIPS-200 40mN
Xenon ion thruster, and it could be used for LHT-100 80 mN Hall
thruster, too. Life test of the discharge and neutralizer modes of LHC-5
hollow cathode were stared in October 2011, and cumulative operation
time reached 17,300 and 16,100 hours in April 2015, respectively. The
life of cathode was designed more than 11,000 hours. Parameters of
discharge and key structure dimensions were monitored in different
stage of life test indicated that cathodes were health enough. The test
will continue until the cathode cannot work or operation parameter is
not in normally. The result of the endurance test of cathode
demonstrated that the LaB6 hollow cathode is satisfied for the required
of thruster in life and performance.
[1] Tighe,W. G., Freick,K .and Chien ,K.R., "Performance Evaluation and
Life Test of the XIPS Hollow Cathode Heater," AIAA 2005-4066, July
2005.
[2] T.P Zhang, X.Y. Wang, H.C. Jiang, “Initial Flight Test Results of the
LIPS-200 Electric Propulsion System on SJ-9A Satellite,” IEPC 2013-47,
October 2013.
[3] Y.H. Jia, N. Gou. “The reliability evaluation of LHC-5 hollow cathode
heater,” IEPC 2013-47, October 2013.
[4] Goebel, D. M., Watkins, R. M. and Jameson, K. K., “LaB6 Hollow
Cathodes for Ion and Hall Thrusters,” Journal of Propulsion and Power,
vol. 23, no. 3, pp.552–558, 2007.
[5] D.M.Goebel, I.Katz. “Fundamentals of Electric Propulsion : Ion and Hall
Thrusters,” JPL Space Science and Technology Series. March 2008.
[6] Guo, N., "Research of hollow Cathode for Ion thruster," Ph.D
Dissertation, China Academy of Space Technology, Lanzhou, 2008.(In
Chinese)
[7] Soulas, G.C., "Status of Hollow Cathode Heater Development for the
Space Station Plasma Contactor," AIAA 1994-3309, June 1994.
[1] Tighe,W. G., Freick,K .and Chien ,K.R., "Performance Evaluation and
Life Test of the XIPS Hollow Cathode Heater," AIAA 2005-4066, July
2005.
[2] T.P Zhang, X.Y. Wang, H.C. Jiang, “Initial Flight Test Results of the
LIPS-200 Electric Propulsion System on SJ-9A Satellite,” IEPC 2013-47,
October 2013.
[3] Y.H. Jia, N. Gou. “The reliability evaluation of LHC-5 hollow cathode
heater,” IEPC 2013-47, October 2013.
[4] Goebel, D. M., Watkins, R. M. and Jameson, K. K., “LaB6 Hollow
Cathodes for Ion and Hall Thrusters,” Journal of Propulsion and Power,
vol. 23, no. 3, pp.552–558, 2007.
[5] D.M.Goebel, I.Katz. “Fundamentals of Electric Propulsion : Ion and Hall
Thrusters,” JPL Space Science and Technology Series. March 2008.
[6] Guo, N., "Research of hollow Cathode for Ion thruster," Ph.D
Dissertation, China Academy of Space Technology, Lanzhou, 2008.(In
Chinese)
[7] Soulas, G.C., "Status of Hollow Cathode Heater Development for the
Space Station Plasma Contactor," AIAA 1994-3309, June 1994.
@article{"International Journal of Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences:71464", author = "Yanhui Jia and Ning Guo and Juan Li and Yunkui Sun and Wei Yang and Tianping Zhang and Lin Ma and Wei Meng and Hai Geng", title = "Current Status of 5A Lab6 Hollow Cathode Life Tests in Lanzhou Institute of Physics, China", abstract = "The current statuses of lifetime test of LaB6 hollow
cathode at the Lanzhou Institute of Physics (LIP), China, was
described. 5A LaB6 hollow cathode was design for LIPS-200 40mN
Xenon ion thruster, and it could be used for LHT-100 80 mN Hall
thruster, too. Life test of the discharge and neutralizer modes of LHC-5
hollow cathode were stared in October 2011, and cumulative operation
time reached 17,300 and 16,100 hours in April 2015, respectively. The
life of cathode was designed more than 11,000 hours. Parameters of
discharge and key structure dimensions were monitored in different
stage of life test indicated that cathodes were health enough. The test
will continue until the cathode cannot work or operation parameter is
not in normally. The result of the endurance test of cathode
demonstrated that the LaB6 hollow cathode is satisfied for the required
of thruster in life and performance.", keywords = "LaB6, hollow cathode, thruster, lifetime test, electric
propulsion.", volume = "9", number = "11", pages = "675-4", }