Plasma Engine using Ion Extraction
AssigneePerriQuest Defense Research Enterprises, LLC
InventorsNicholas V. Perricone, Kurt Rauschenbach, Matthew Partlow
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Abstract
A plasma engine includes a plasma source that generates ions from molecular gas species received at a gas input where at least some of the ions generated are atomic species ions. An ion extractor is configured to extract ions from the plasma source with an electric field. A housing comprising a recombination region receives ions extracted from the ion extractor. At least some of the atomic species ions recombine into molecular species in the housing, thereby releasing energy for thrust.
Claims26
1-33 canceled
A plasma engine comprising:
- a) a plasma source having a gas input coupled to a source of first molecular gas species and an output port, the plasma source generating ions from the received first molecular gas species;
- b) an ion extractor positioned proximate to the output port of the plasma source and configured to extract ions from the plasma source with an electric field;
- and
- c) a housing comprising a region that receives ions extracted from the ion extractor, wherein at least some of the extracted ions react with a second molecular gas species present in the housing to generate thrust.
A method for generating thrust, the method comprising:
- a) providing a first molecular gas species to a plasma source;
- b) generating ions in the plasma source from the first molecular gas species;
- c) extracting the generated ions from the plasma source with an electric field;
- and
- d) reacting the extracted ions with a second molecular gas species to generate thrust.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.