Ion Thruster Grid Lifetime Assessment Based on Its Structural Failure
This article developed an ion thruster optic system
sputter erosion depth numerical 3D model by IFE-PIC (Immersed
Finite Element-Particle-in-Cell) and Mont Carlo method, and
calculated the downstream surface sputter erosion rate of accelerator
grid; compared with LIPS-200 life test data. The results of the
numerical model are in reasonable agreement with the measured data.
Finally, we predicted the lifetime of the 20cm diameter ion thruster via
the erosion data obtained with the model. The ultimate result
demonstrated that under normal operating condition, the erosion rate
of the grooves wears on the downstream surface of the accelerator grid
is 34.6μm⁄1000h, which means the conservative lifetime until
structural failure occurring on the accelerator grid is 11500 hours.
[1] Juan Li, Study of Accelerator Grid Sputter Erosion and Preliminary
Service Life Assessment, Phd. Thesis, 2012. (In Chinese).
[2] G. J. Williams. Life-limiting trends of high-specific impulse ion optics. In
40th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit,
AIAA 04–3627, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, July 2004.
[3] John R. Brophy, et al., Numerical Simulations of Ion Thruster Accelerator
Grid Erosion, AIAA 2002-4261, presented at the 38th Joint Propulsion
Conference and Exhibit, 7-10 July 2002, Indianapolis, Indiana.
[4] Yuchuan. Chu, et al., A Numerical Simulations of Ion Thruster grid
Lifetime. Chinese Ninth Session of the Electric Propulsion, 2013 (In
Chinese).
[5] Fujun. Tang, Plume Characteristics Diagnosis Technology and
Experimental Research of 20cm Ion Thruster, master thesis, 2007. (In
Chinese).
[6] Zhang T.P., 7500-hour Life Test of the QM LIPS-200 Ion Thruster. IEPC
2015-133/ISTS-2015-b-133, 34th International Electric Propulsion
Conference, and 6th Nano-satellite Symposium, Japan, 2015.
[7] Yanhui Jia, et al., Probability Analysis of Ion Thruster Accelerator grid
Lifetime, Propulsion Technology (J), 2011, 32(6): 766-769. (In Chinese).
[8] Soulas G C. Design and Performance of 40 cm Ion Optics. IEPC
2001-090.
[1] Juan Li, Study of Accelerator Grid Sputter Erosion and Preliminary
Service Life Assessment, Phd. Thesis, 2012. (In Chinese).
[2] G. J. Williams. Life-limiting trends of high-specific impulse ion optics. In
40th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit,
AIAA 04–3627, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, July 2004.
[3] John R. Brophy, et al., Numerical Simulations of Ion Thruster Accelerator
Grid Erosion, AIAA 2002-4261, presented at the 38th Joint Propulsion
Conference and Exhibit, 7-10 July 2002, Indianapolis, Indiana.
[4] Yuchuan. Chu, et al., A Numerical Simulations of Ion Thruster grid
Lifetime. Chinese Ninth Session of the Electric Propulsion, 2013 (In
Chinese).
[5] Fujun. Tang, Plume Characteristics Diagnosis Technology and
Experimental Research of 20cm Ion Thruster, master thesis, 2007. (In
Chinese).
[6] Zhang T.P., 7500-hour Life Test of the QM LIPS-200 Ion Thruster. IEPC
2015-133/ISTS-2015-b-133, 34th International Electric Propulsion
Conference, and 6th Nano-satellite Symposium, Japan, 2015.
[7] Yanhui Jia, et al., Probability Analysis of Ion Thruster Accelerator grid
Lifetime, Propulsion Technology (J), 2011, 32(6): 766-769. (In Chinese).
[8] Soulas G C. Design and Performance of 40 cm Ion Optics. IEPC
2001-090.
@article{"International Journal of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Sciences:71689", author = "Juan Li and Jiawen Qiu and Yuchuan Chu and Tianping Zhang and Wei Meng and Yanhui Jia and Xiaohui Liu", title = "Ion Thruster Grid Lifetime Assessment Based on Its Structural Failure", abstract = "This article developed an ion thruster optic system
sputter erosion depth numerical 3D model by IFE-PIC (Immersed
Finite Element-Particle-in-Cell) and Mont Carlo method, and
calculated the downstream surface sputter erosion rate of accelerator
grid; compared with LIPS-200 life test data. The results of the
numerical model are in reasonable agreement with the measured data.
Finally, we predicted the lifetime of the 20cm diameter ion thruster via
the erosion data obtained with the model. The ultimate result
demonstrated that under normal operating condition, the erosion rate
of the grooves wears on the downstream surface of the accelerator grid
is 34.6μm⁄1000h, which means the conservative lifetime until
structural failure occurring on the accelerator grid is 11500 hours.", keywords = "Ion thruster, accelerator gird, sputter erosion, lifetime
assessment.", volume = "9", number = "11", pages = "1989-4", }