US 2025/0354541 A1 · GAS DISTRIBUTOR FOR ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEMS

Abstract

Systems and methods for a low cost and simple to manufacture gas distributor for use as an anode in an electric propulsion (EP) system are presented. According to one aspect, the gas distributor is a single integrated structure made of a single material, including graphite or steel. The gas distributor includes an annular shape with axial symmetry about a center axis. The gas distributor includes an upstream gas channel region and a downstream gas diffuser region. The gas channel region includes a circumferential hollow region, and two sets of axial holes arranged at respective radial positions. A radial cross section of the gas distributor includes an upstream opening corresponding to the hollow region of the gas channel region and a downstream triangular shape corresponding to the gas diffuser region. A radial extension of the triangular shape axially interferes with the two sets of axial holes.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A gas distributor for an electric propulsion system, comprising:

an annular structure with axial symmetry about a center axis, the annular structure comprising
an upstream gas channel region comprising a circumferential hollow region and two sets of holes circumferentially arranged at two radial positions;
and
a downstream gas diffuser region comprising a triangular shaped radial cross section that radially extends through the two radial positions.

1 more element

A method for fabricating a gas distributor for an electric propulsion (EP) system, comprising:

providing an annular block made from a single material, the annular block comprising an axial symmetry about a center axis and a square radial cross section axially extending from a bottom upstream end to a top downstream end of the annular block;
cutting the top upstream end of the annular block at an angle, thereby forming a triangular radial cross section;
cutting inner and outer slots in a medial region of the annular block, thereby forming a rectangular cross section having a radial extension that is contained within a radial extension of the triangular radial cross section;
cutting out an annulus from the bottom upstream end of the annular block, thereby forming a hollow region having a cross section that contains the radial extension of the rectangular cross section;
drilling holes through the hollow region, thereby forming an inner ring of holes and an outer ring of holes;
and
based on the drilling, finalizing the fabricating of the gas distributor.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gas distributor for electric propulsion systems

Life of this patent

Gas distributor for electric propulsion systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23