# US 7,743,601 B2 · Resistojet

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 7,743,601 B2
- Document ID: US7743601B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/575,982
- Filed: 2005-10-13
- Published: 2007-12-27
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2004-10-15
- Assignees: Astrium GmbH
- Inventors: Max Calabro
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743601B2

## CPC

- B64G 1/415: {Arcjets or resistojets}
- F03H 1/0093: {Electro-thermal plasma thrusters, i.e. thrusters heating the particles in a plasma (resistojets per se B64G1/415)}
- B64G 1/402: {Propellant tanks; Feeding propellants}
- B64G 1/443: {Photovoltaic cell arrays}
- B64G 1/50: for temperature control
- Y02E 10/46: Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
- B64G: COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- F03H: PRODUCING A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (from combustion products F02K)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The invention concerns an electrothermal thruster (1) comprising a heating section (20) through which a propellant fluid (4) is intended to pass so that it is heated before it is exhausted, the heating section (20) being supplied by an electric power source (22). According to the invention, the electric power source (22) comprises photovoltaic cells (24) mounted on the heat exchanger (10) through which the propellant fluid (4) is intended to pass before it reaches the heating section (20). Application to the area of spacecraft propulsion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrothermal thruster comprising:
a heating section supplied by an electric power source and through which a propellant fluid is intended to pass to be heated before being exhausted,
wherein said electric power source comprises photovoltaic cells mounted on a heat exchanger through which said propellant fluid is intended to pass before reaching said heating section.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An electrothermal thruster according to claim 1, wherein said electric power source further comprises a solar concentrator associated with said photovoltaic cells.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An electrothermal thruster according to claim 2, wherein said solar concentrator associated with said photovoltaic cells is an inflatable structure.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An electrothermal thruster according to claim 1, wherein said photovoltaic cells are mounted on an outer surface of said heat exchanger.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

An electrothermal thruster according to claim 4, wherein said photovoltaic cells are mounted on the outer surface by bonding.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An electrothermal thruster according to claim 1, of resistojet type.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An electrothermal thruster according to claim 1, of arcjet type.