Research on the energy balance in discharge chamber for ion thruster

To get the mechanism of energy loss in discharge chamber of ion thruster, the energy balance in discharge chamber was studied. Based on 0-D model of discharge performance, the relation of currents balance in discharge chamber was analyzed, combined with the potential distribution, the model of energy loss in discharge chamber was established. Using the LIPS200 thruster as the object of calculation, the respective distribution ratio of various energy loss in the discharge chamber was obtained, and the results between the model calculated and literature were contrasted; Further validation was carried out by test in more conditions (corresponding anode current is 4.0-4.4 A, anode voltage is 34-38 V), and the results indicate that the maximum error is no more than 3%.