Superconducting magnetohydrodynamic drive
AssigneeTai-Yang Research Company
InventorsChristopher M. Rey, Benjamin S. Andrews, Trever H. Carnes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetohydrodynamic propulsion device (MHD), having a superconducting magnet, a cryogenic refrigeration system adapted to cool the superconducting magnet, a vacuum cryostat surrounding the superconducting magnet, an electrode pair, and a housing adapted to mount the MHD to a vessel, wherein the superconducting magnet and the electrode pair are adapted to receive electrical power and generate a magnetic field, an electric field, and an electrode current density to produce thrust in an electrically conducting medium in contact with the MHD.
Claims20
A magnetohydrodynamic propulsion device (MHD), comprising:
- a superconducting magnet,
- a cryogenic refrigeration system adapted to cool the superconducting magnet,
- a vacuum cryostat surrounding the superconducting magnet,
- an electrode pair, and
- a housing adapted to mount the MHD to a vessel,
- wherein the superconducting magnet and the electrode pair are adapted to receive electrical power and generate a magnetic field, an electric field, and an electrode current density to produce thrust in an electrically conducting medium in contact with the MHD.
A method of generating a thrust in an electrically conductive medium, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a magnetohydrodynamic propulsion device (MHD), comprising:
- a superconducting magnet,
- a cryogenic refrigeration system adapted to cool the superconducting magnet,
- a vacuum cryostat surrounding the superconducting magnet,
- an electrode pair, and
- a housing adapted to mount the MHD to a vessel, and
- immersing the MHD in the electrically conductive medium,
- wherein the superconducting magnet and the electrode pair are adapted to receive electrical power and generate a magnetic field, an electric field, and an electrode current density to produce the thrust in the electrically conducting medium.
A method of generating a thrust in an electrically conductive medium, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a magnetohydrodynamic propulsion device (MHD), comprising:
- a superconducting magnet,
- a cryogenic refrigeration system adapted to cool the superconducting magnet,
- a vacuum cryostat surrounding the superconducting magnet,
- an electrode pair, and
- a housing adapted to mount the MHD to a vessel,
- immersing the MHD in the electrically conductive medium,
- wherein the superconducting magnet and the electrode pair are adapted to receive electrical power and generate a magnetic field, an electric field, and an electrode current density to produce a first portion of the thrust in the electrically conducting medium, and
- providing an impeller adapted to produce a second portion of the thrust.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.