TANDEM - High-Power Hall Thruster Prototype with Coaxial Channels

TANDEM is a high-power Hall thruster developed within the ESA-funded TANDEM project, representing a major advancement in European electric propulsion. It is one of the very few high-power Hall thrusters in Europe and the first European dual-channel Hall thruster with magnetic shielding, uniquely designed entirely by a research institution. The thruster was fully designed by the Electric Propulsion Laboratory of the University of Pisa, while manufacturing, assembly, and testing were carried out by the industrial partner Aerospazio Tecnologie S.r.l. The first experimental campaign was successfully completed, and the results were presented at the International Electric Propulsion Conference (IEPC 2024).

Operating at a nominal maximum power of 25 kW, TANDEM belongs to the class of European high-power Hall thrusters. Its dual coaxial discharge channel configuration allows the channels to operate independently or simultaneously, sharing a single magnetic circuit and a central hollow cathode. This architecture provides a wide operational envelope, improved efficiency, and a compact footprint, effectively integrating multiple operating modes in the volume of a conventional single-channel thruster. The thruster adopts magnetic shielding, a key technology to reduce ceramic channel erosion and significantly extend operational lifetime, compared to traditional designs. Early tests demonstrate state-of-the-art performance with multiple propellants, in particular Xenon and Krypton. A dedicated high-current hollow cathode has been developed for TANDEM, capable of operating at currents up to 100 A with very low propellant consumption. The central cathode placement contributes to reduced overall dimensions, despite the severe thermal loads involved.

The design and testing activities were conducted by the University of Pisa electric propulsion team, led by Prof. Fabrizio Paganucci, with contributions from postdoctoral researchers and PhD candidate, supported by graduate students through dedicated MSc theses. The project also represents a tribute to Prof. Mariano Andrenucci, whose early vision on multichannel Hall thrusters strongly influenced the international electric propulsion community.