US 7,395,656 B2 · Dual mode hybrid electric thruster

Abstract

An invention is provided for a dual mode hybrid electric thruster propulsion system. The dual mode hybrid electric thruster provides low thrust using ion/plasma exhaust only, and high thrust by mixing a neutral molecular gas with the ion/plasma exhaust. The dual mode hybrid electric thruster includes a main propellant duct defining a main propellant intake. Coupled to the main propellant duct is an accelerating element, which includes an ionization chamber and an exhaust output. In addition, a momentum exchange zone is located at the exhaust output of the accelerating element. The momentum exchange zone includes a secondary propellant duct defining a secondary propellant intake, which provides a secondary propellant into the momentum exchange zone. In high-thrust mode, the momentum exchange zone exchanges momentum between high velocity ions from the accelerating element with atoms of the secondary propellant.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A propulsion system comprising:

a main propellant duct defining a main propellant intake for providing a main propellant;
an accelerating element coupled to the main propellant duct, the accelerating element having an ionization chamber for ionizing the main propellant and an exhaust output for high velocity ions of the main propellant from the accelerating element;
and
a momentum exchange zone located at the exhaust output of the accelerating element, the momentum exchange zone having a secondary propellant duct defining a secondary propellant intake, wherein the secondary propellant duct provides a secondary propellant into the momentum exchange zone where momentum is exchanged from the high velocity ions from the accelerating element to atoms of the secondary propellant.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dual mode hybrid electric thruster

Life of this patent

Dual mode hybrid electric thruster

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20