Scalable flat-panel nano-particle MEMS/NEMS thruster
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorsBrian E. Gilchrist, Alec D. Gallimore, Michael Keidar, Louis Musinski, Thomas M. Liu
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Abstract
A scalable flat-panel nano-particle MEMS/NEMS thruster includes a grid having a plurality of electrodes to establish electrical fields. A liquid is disposed in a liquid reservoir of the grid. The liquid is positioned within the electrical fields. A plurality of nano-particles are suspended in the liquid. A plurality of MEMS and NEMS micron-size vias are disposed in the grid. The electrical fields extract the plurality of nano-particles from the liquid and accelerate the nano-particles in the vias to provide propulsion system thrust.
Claims34
A propulsion system, comprising:
- a grid;
- a gimbal supporting the grid;
- and
- a plurality of micron-size vias disposed in the grid, the grid establishing electrical fields to extract and accelerate a plurality of nano-particles providing propulsion system thrust.
A scalable flat-panel nano-particle thruster, comprising:
- a grid having a plurality of electrodes each defining an electrical field;
- a liquid disposed in a liquid reservoir of the grid, the liquid positioned to be operably contacted by the electrical fields;
- a plurality of nano-particles suspended in the liquid;
- and
- a plurality of micron-size vias disposed in the grid;
- wherein the electrical fields extract the plurality of nano-particles from the liquid and accelerate the nano-particles in the vias to provide propulsion system thrust.
A propulsion system, comprising:
- a planar grid including:
- a liquid having a surface;
- a plurality of nano-particles disposed in the liquid;
- an electrode immersed in the dielectric liquid charging the particles by contact of the particles with the electrode;
- a plurality of gate structures generating both an electric field and an electrostatic force, the electrostatic force both lifting the particles off the electrode and overcoming a surface tension force of the liquid allowing the particles to escape through the surface of the liquid;
- and
- a plurality of vias within each of the gate structures, each receiving and discharging the particles after escape through the surface of the liquid, the imposed electric field acting through the vias to accelerate the particles and generate a thrust force.
A method for operating a nano-particle thruster, the method comprising:
- suspending a plurality of nano-particles in a liquid;
- circulating the liquid to transport the nano-particles to a plurality of extraction zones;
- charging the nano-particles at the extraction zones by contact of the particles with an electrode immersed in the liquid;
- lifting the nano-particles off the electrode using an imposed electric field creating an electrostatic force;
- extracting the nano-particles through a surface of the liquid using the electrostatic force, the electrostatic force overcoming a surface tension force of the liquid;
- and
- accelerating the nano-particles using the imposed electric field.
A method for generating thrust using a nano-particle thruster system, the method comprising:
- suspending a plurality of cylindrical nano-particles in a dielectric liquid;
- charging the particles by contact of the particles with an electrode immersed in the liquid;
- lifting the nano-particles off the electrode using an imposed electric field creating an electrostatic force;
- field focusing the electric field on a tip of the particles to rotate the particles from a first orientation having a longitudinal axis of the particles substantially parallel to the electrode to a second orientation substantially perpendicular to both the electrode and a surface of the liquid;
- extracting the nano-particles through the surface of the liquid using the electrostatic force, the electrostatic force overcoming a surface tension force of the liquid;
- and
- accelerating the nano-particles using the imposed electric field to generate a thrust.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.