Air-breathing pulsed plasma thruster

Abstract

The invention relates to an air-breathing pulsed plasma thruster which comprises an air collection device, a flow adjusting device, an air inlet passage, a storage tank, an air inlet spray pipe, an anode, a cathode, a discharge chamber housing, a spark plug, a power system and an energy-storage capacitor. High-speed air enters the air collection device, and enters the storage tank through a flow adjusting valve, so that the disturbance of the high-speed air is reduced; before the air enters a discharge passage, air flow is adjusted; the energy-storage capacitor is charged by the power system,so that a high voltage is formed between the anode and the cathode, inflow air enters a discharge passage through the air inlet spray pipe, and charged particles are generated through the ignition ofthe spark plug to enable the electrodes to be conducted to discharge; and under the jointed effect of the magnetic field formed in a loop current and an electric field formed between the electrodes, aplasma generates electro-magnetic acceleration and is sprayed out from the discharge cavity housing, so that a thrust is generated.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of spacecraft space propulsion, and relates to an air-breathing pulsed plasma thruster, in particular to a pulsed plasma thruster for sucking rare air in space into a propulsion device and serving as a propellant. Background technique [0002] As one of the important subsystems of the spacecraft system, the propulsion system is an important guarantee for the normal operation of the spacecraft in orbit. Electric propulsion is a type of advanced space propulsion system. Compared with traditional chemical propulsion, electric propulsion has a higher specific impulse, and can produce greater acceleration under the condition of carrying the same propellant mass. Electric propulsion uses solar power to ionize the propellant and create a high-velocity jet of plasma. The pulsed plasma thruster is the earliest electric thruster to be used in space. Before 1962, the Soviet Union first used the pulsed plasma thruster ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0005] Although compared with chemical propulsion, electric propulsion needs to carry less propellant, but the mass of propellant still occupies the mass of spacecraft payload, especially in low orbits with a distance of 200 km and below, the spacecraft is less affected by atmospheric resistance. Large, need to carry more propellant, thus increasing the cost of launch; in addition, limited propellant also limits the life of the spacecraft

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