Study on the Improvement of Theoretical and Electric Field Simulation Methods for the Accurate Prediction of FEEP Thruster Performance

In this study, we investigate and propose an improved theoretical method to more accurately predict the performance of a field-emission electric propulsion (FEEP) thruster with its complex configuration. We identify critical flaws in the previous theoretical methods and derive corrected equations. A...

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Main Authors: Jeongsik Shin, Kyun Ho Lee, Jungwon Kuk, Han Seo Ko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Aerospace
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/11/9/716
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author Jeongsik Shin
Kyun Ho Lee
Jungwon Kuk
Han Seo Ko
author_facet Jeongsik Shin
Kyun Ho Lee
Jungwon Kuk
Han Seo Ko
author_sort Jeongsik Shin
collection DOAJ
description In this study, we investigate and propose an improved theoretical method to more accurately predict the performance of a field-emission electric propulsion (FEEP) thruster with its complex configuration. We identify critical flaws in the previous theoretical methods and derive corrected equations. Additionally, we define and implement the overall half angle of the Taylor cone to account for variations in the Taylor cone’s half angle depending on the applied voltage. Next, we also establish an improved method of the electric filed simulation in a three-dimensional domain to accurately predict a trajectory of extracted ions and a resulting spatial beam distribution of the FEEP thruster by incorporating a configuration of the Taylor cone with the estimated overall half angle from the results of the present theoretical method. Through comparison with the experimental measurements, we found that the present improved methods for theoretical and electric field simulations can yield more accurate predictions than those of the previous methods, especially for higher <i>V</i> and <i>I<sub>em</sub></i> regimes, which correspond to the actual operating conditions of the FEEP thruster. Consequently, we anticipate that the proposed methods can enhance the reliability and efficiency of the design process by accurately predicting performance when developing the new FEEP thruster with its non-symmetric complex configuration to match specific thrust or spatial beam requirements.
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spelling doaj-art-7befd477bba64b48b30bc86abc8145e02025-08-20T01:56:01ZengMDPI AGAerospace2226-43102024-09-0111971610.3390/aerospace11090716Study on the Improvement of Theoretical and Electric Field Simulation Methods for the Accurate Prediction of FEEP Thruster PerformanceJeongsik Shin0Kyun Ho Lee1Jungwon Kuk2Han Seo Ko3Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of KoreaSejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of KoreaSOLETOP, Daejeon 34051, Republic of KoreaSungkyunkwan University, Suwon 03063, Republic of KoreaIn this study, we investigate and propose an improved theoretical method to more accurately predict the performance of a field-emission electric propulsion (FEEP) thruster with its complex configuration. We identify critical flaws in the previous theoretical methods and derive corrected equations. Additionally, we define and implement the overall half angle of the Taylor cone to account for variations in the Taylor cone’s half angle depending on the applied voltage. Next, we also establish an improved method of the electric filed simulation in a three-dimensional domain to accurately predict a trajectory of extracted ions and a resulting spatial beam distribution of the FEEP thruster by incorporating a configuration of the Taylor cone with the estimated overall half angle from the results of the present theoretical method. Through comparison with the experimental measurements, we found that the present improved methods for theoretical and electric field simulations can yield more accurate predictions than those of the previous methods, especially for higher <i>V</i> and <i>I<sub>em</sub></i> regimes, which correspond to the actual operating conditions of the FEEP thruster. Consequently, we anticipate that the proposed methods can enhance the reliability and efficiency of the design process by accurately predicting performance when developing the new FEEP thruster with its non-symmetric complex configuration to match specific thrust or spatial beam requirements.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/11/9/716space propulsionfield-emission electric propulsion (FEEP)thrusterTaylor cone
spellingShingle Jeongsik Shin
Kyun Ho Lee
Jungwon Kuk
Han Seo Ko
Study on the Improvement of Theoretical and Electric Field Simulation Methods for the Accurate Prediction of FEEP Thruster Performance
Aerospace
space propulsion
field-emission electric propulsion (FEEP)
thruster
Taylor cone
title Study on the Improvement of Theoretical and Electric Field Simulation Methods for the Accurate Prediction of FEEP Thruster Performance
title_full Study on the Improvement of Theoretical and Electric Field Simulation Methods for the Accurate Prediction of FEEP Thruster Performance
title_fullStr Study on the Improvement of Theoretical and Electric Field Simulation Methods for the Accurate Prediction of FEEP Thruster Performance
title_full_unstemmed Study on the Improvement of Theoretical and Electric Field Simulation Methods for the Accurate Prediction of FEEP Thruster Performance
title_short Study on the Improvement of Theoretical and Electric Field Simulation Methods for the Accurate Prediction of FEEP Thruster Performance
title_sort study on the improvement of theoretical and electric field simulation methods for the accurate prediction of feep thruster performance
topic space propulsion
field-emission electric propulsion (FEEP)
thruster
Taylor cone
url https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/11/9/716
work_keys_str_mv AT jeongsikshin studyontheimprovementoftheoreticalandelectricfieldsimulationmethodsfortheaccuratepredictionoffeepthrusterperformance
AT kyunholee studyontheimprovementoftheoreticalandelectricfieldsimulationmethodsfortheaccuratepredictionoffeepthrusterperformance
AT jungwonkuk studyontheimprovementoftheoreticalandelectricfieldsimulationmethodsfortheaccuratepredictionoffeepthrusterperformance
AT hanseoko studyontheimprovementoftheoreticalandelectricfieldsimulationmethodsfortheaccuratepredictionoffeepthrusterperformance