Apparatus for ionizing and accelerating a fluid

An apparatus for ionizing a fluid and accelerating the fluid in a movement direction of the fluid comprising:

• a plurality of electrodes disposed in the fluid where the electrodes are generally transverse to the direction of movement, in generally parallel relation to each other at spaced positions along the movement direction;
• the electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode which is downstream-most and downstream of the first electrode;
• wherein each of the electrodes comprises a body which is electrically conductive and has a first side facing in the movement direction and a second side facing opposite to the movement direction;
• wherein each of the electrodes includes a plurality of apertures from the first side to the second side to allow passage of the fluid therethrough in the movement direction;
• support components mounting the electrodes in the fluid;
• a voltage source electrically connected to the electrodes to form an electric field therebetween along the movement direction for ionizing the fluid;
• wherein at least one of the electrodes includes a plurality of electrically conductive projections electrically coupled to said at least one electrode and extending in a common direction along said movement direction from the first side of the body of said at least one of the projections to tips of the projections in spaced relation to the first side;
• wherein the projections are arranged at spaced positions across the first side of said at least one of the electrodes;
• wherein both said first and second electrodes include said electrically conductive projections on said first face thereof.