Hall Effect Thruster Efficiency Calculator

Spacecraft Electric Propulsion: Calculate electrostatic ion acceleration, thrust ($T$), specific impulse ($I_{sp}$), anode efficiency ($\eta_a$), and power partitioning.

Operating Electrical Parameters

Discharge Voltage $V_d$ (V):

Discharge Current $I_d$ (A):

Propellant Species:

Anode Flow Rate $\dot{m}_a$ (mg/s):

Beam & Efficiency Factors

Current Utilization $\eta_b = I_b / I_d$:

Beam Divergence Half-Angle $\theta$ (°):

Cathode Mass Flow Fraction (%):

Doubly-Charged Ion Fraction $\alpha_{++}$:

Thrust & Performance Output

Total Thrust ($T$)

-- mN

Thrust-to-Power: -- mN/kW

Specific Impulse ($I_{sp}$)

-- s

Effective $v_e$: -- km/s

Anode Efficiency ($\eta_a$)

-- %

Total System $\eta$: -- %

Discharge Power ($P_d$)

-- W

Ideal Ion Velocity: -- km/s

Thruster Physics Insights:

• Divergence correction $\cos\theta$ and multiply-charged ions factor $\gamma = \cos\theta \cdot \frac{1 + \alpha_{++}/\sqrt{2}}{1 + \alpha_{++}}$ directly attenuate momentum.

• Anode efficiency: $\eta_a = \frac{T^2}{2 \dot{m}_a P_d}$. Total efficiency accounts for cathode flow: $\dot{m}_{tot} = \dot{m}_a (1 + f_{cath})$.

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Hall Effect Thruster Efficiency Calculator

Operating Electrical Parameters

Beam & Efficiency Factors

Thrust & Performance Output

Frequently Asked Questions