Multi-functional power supply for a hall thruster

A multi-functional power supply system for a Hall thruster comprising:

• a thruster assembly including an anode for providing a plasma discharge;
• a cathode assembly for providing electrons, the cathode assembly having an emitter, a keeper including a current limiting device, and a heater;
• a magnetic field source operatively associated with the thruster assembly for generating a magnetic field to control the discharge;
• a plasma discharge circuit for creating a plasma and accelerating the plasma to produce thrust;
• and
• a power supply connected to said keeper and said plasma discharge circuit and connected to said heater through a switching device responsive to a predetermined condition for interrupting the power to said heater and simultaneously enabling said power supply to deliver power to said keeper and said discharge circuit to initiate production of thrust, said power supply operating in a current control mode when said switching device is conducting current and in a voltage control mode when said switching device has interrupted the current to said heater.

A multi-functional power supply system for a Hall thruster comprising:

• a thruster assembly for providing a plasma discharge;
• a cathode assembly for providing electrons, the cathode assembly having an emitter, a keeper including a current limiting device and a heater, said current limiting device configured to select the operating point of said keeper;
• a magnetic field source operatively associated with the thruster assembly for generating a magnetic field to control the discharge;
• a plasma discharge circuit for creating a plasma and accelerating the plasma to produce thrust;
• and
• a power supply connected to said keeper and said plasma discharge circuit and connected to said heater through a first switching device responsive to a predetermined condition for interrupting the power to said heater and simultaneously enabling said power supply to deliver power to said keeper and said plasma discharge circuit to initiate production of thrust.

A multi-functional power supply system for a Hall thruster comprising:

• a thruster assembly including an anode for providing a plasma discharge;
• a cathode assembly for providing electrons, the cathode assembly having an emitter, a keeper including a current limiting device, and a heater;
• a magnetic field source operatively associated with the thruster assembly for generating a magnetic field to control the discharge;
• a plasma discharge circuit for creating a plasma and accelerating the plasma to produce thrust;
• and
• a power supply, connected to said keeper and said plasma discharge circuit and connected to said heater through a switching device, responsive to a predetermined condition for interrupting the power to said heater and simultaneously enabling said power supply to deliver power to said keeper, said plasma discharge circuit, said magnetic field source and said thruster assembly to initiate production of thrust.