A micro-channel-porous launch structure for an arrayed ion liquid electric propulsion thruster

Abstract

The application provides a micro-channel-porous emission structure for an array ion liquid electric spray thruster, comprising a substrate, an emission component, a flow guide component and a storage component; the flow guide component is used for communication between adjacent emission components, and the storage component is arranged on the flow guide component, that is, the flow guide component and the storage component work cooperatively, when ion liquid is not completely emitted or back spray occurs, and is gathered near the emission component and the substrate, the flow guide component can guide the ion liquid into the storage component and store the ion liquid in the storage component. Compared with the traditional array electric spray thruster which does not use a special structure to prevent overflow liquid on the surface of the array substrate, the working mode of the flow guide component and the storage component used in the application improves the collection and storage capacity of the overflow liquid, ensures that there is no excess liquid gathered at the bottom of the emission electrode during large flow or long time work, and ensures that the thruster can stably generate thrust.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of aerospace technology, and in particular to a microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ion liquid electro-injection thruster. Background Technology

[0002] Ion liquid electrospray thrusters possess comprehensive advantages such as simple structure, easy miniaturization, and high thrust control precision, making them highly promising for applications in attitude and orbit control of micro and nanosatellites. However, the thrust limitation of a single jet unit prevents the thruster from meeting high thrust requirements and carries a high risk of failure. A failure could lead to a decline in the performance of the entire thruster or even malfunction, failing to meet current space mission requirements. Therefore, array-type designs have emerged. By employing a parallel structure of multiple jet units, the limitations of single-jet designs can be effectively avoided. Array-type thrusters not only provide greater total thrust but also improve thruster stability and efficiency by dispersing heat load and electric field.

[0003] Traditional array-type electro-spray thrusters (such as) Figure 1 As shown in the diagram, its main structure includes an emitter 1', an array substrate 2', a screw fixing structure, a liquid storage device, and an extraction electrode. The array substrate 2' is made from photosensitive resin material, which is easy to 3D print and possesses high strength and high temperature resistance. Multiple emitters 1' are evenly distributed on the array substrate 2', and the emitters 1' are mostly made of P5-grade porous borosilicate glass. The screw fixing structure is used to fix the array thruster to the storage and supply device and electrode plate below. When the array thruster is working, the extraction electrode is grounded, and a high voltage is applied to the emitter 1'. The ionic liquid is first transported to the top of the emitter 1' via capillary action, and then emitted after forming a Taylor cone under high voltage.

[0004] However, the above-mentioned array thruster structure has the following problems: the ionic liquid on the surface of the emitter 1' is prone to overflow, and when the ionic liquid overflows from the surface of the emitter 1', the liquid conducts between the extractor and the emitter, which will cause a short circuit between the emitter 1' and the extractor, causing the thruster to fail to ignite, thus affecting the service life of the array thruster structure.

[0005] Specifically, when multiple emitters 1' share the same liquid reservoir, the inconsistent resistance of the pathways for each emitter 1' can lead to oversupply. When oversupply occurs, some emitters 1' may not fully emit the ionic liquid due to excessive liquid supply. This insufficiently emitted ionic liquid will spread or turn outward at the outlet, forming a "bridge" between the emitter and extractor, causing discharge instability or even short circuit, leading to thruster failure and affecting its service life.

[0006] In addition, the increased array size, coupled with the uneven discharge caused by manufacturing tolerances and differences in emission points, makes the ionic liquid on the surface of some emitter 1' more prone to the aforementioned overflow problem.

[0007] To address the aforementioned shortcomings, solutions exist, specifically controlling the ionic liquid flow rate and voltage to slow down the overflow rate. However, in practical applications, the relationship between flow rate, voltage, and overflow-induced failure is unclear, making it difficult to effectively solve the overflow problem.

[0008] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a microchannel-porous emission structure for array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thrusters to solve the above-mentioned technical problems to a certain extent. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The purpose of this application is to provide a microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster, which can limit the overflow liquid from accumulating on the emitter surface to prevent short circuits caused by "bridging", thereby increasing the working stability of the array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster to a certain extent and improving its service life.

[0010] This application provides a microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster, comprising:

[0011] A substrate on which multiple emitter sites are arranged in an array;

[0012] The emitting component is disposed on the substrate in a one-to-one correspondence with the emitting pole position, and the emitting end of the emitting component protrudes from the upper surface of the substrate;

[0013] A flow guiding member, disposed on the substrate and connected to an adjacent emission member, is provided to guide the ionic liquid overflowing from the emission member; and

[0014] A storage component, disposed on the flow guiding component, is capable of storing the ionic liquid guided by the flow guiding component.

[0015] In the above technical solution, further, a groove is formed on the upper surface of the substrate corresponding to the position of the emitter point, which is recessed toward the lower surface of the substrate;

[0016] The launching end of the launching component protrudes from the bottom wall of the groove.

[0017] In the above technical solution, the flow guiding component further includes a flow guiding groove; the flow guiding groove is formed in the substrate, and the two ends of the flow guiding groove are respectively connected to the groove of the adjacent launching component.

[0018] In the above technical solution, the bottom wall of the guide channel has a first guide surface, a second guide surface and a third guide surface connected in sequence;

[0019] The first guide surface is connected to the bottom wall of one of the adjacent tanks at a first preset angle, and the third guide surface is connected to the bottom wall of the other adjacent tank at a second preset angle.

[0020] One end of the second guide surface is connected to the end of the first guide surface away from the groove at a third preset angle, and the other end of the second guide surface is connected to the end of the third guide surface away from the groove at a fourth preset angle.

[0021] In the above technical solution, the first preset angle and the second preset angle are further 53°;

[0022] The third preset angle and the fourth preset angle are 127°, so that the second guide surface is parallel to the upper surface of the substrate.

[0023] In the above technical solution, further, the bottom wall of the guide channel is provided with guide ribs at intervals along its width direction;

[0024] A flow guiding gap is formed between adjacent flow guiding ribs.

[0025] In the above technical solution, the guide rib is further divided into a first guide rib and a second guide rib;

[0026] The height of the first guide rib is less than the height of the second guide rib;

[0027] Two of the first guide ribs are provided between adjacent second guide ribs.

[0028] In the above technical solution, further, taking the upper surface of the substrate as the reference plane, the distance between the second guide surface and the reference plane is between 1mm and 1.5mm; the height of the first guide rib is set between 0.01mm and 0.03mm; the height of the second guide rib is set between 0.04mm and 0.06mm; the spacing between adjacent first guide ribs and second guide ribs, and between adjacent first guide ribs, is set between 0.04mm and 0.06mm.

[0029] In the above technical solution, the storage component further includes a storage block, which is disposed in the guide channel;

[0030] The storage block has interconnected through holes arranged in an array, and the through holes extend through the outer surface of the storage block, so that the through holes are connected to the flow guide gap.

[0031] In the above technical solution, the side length of the through hole is set between 0.020 mm and 0.030 mm; the side distance between adjacent through holes is set between 0.05 mm and 0.15 mm; and the center distance between adjacent through holes is set between 0.120 mm and 0.130 mm.

[0032] Compared with the prior art, this application has the following beneficial effects:

[0033] This application provides a microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster, comprising:

[0034] A substrate on which multiple emitter sites are arranged in an array;

[0035] The emitting component is disposed on the substrate in a one-to-one correspondence with the emitting pole position, and the emitting end of the emitting component protrudes from the upper surface of the substrate;

[0036] A flow guiding member, disposed on the substrate and connected to an adjacent emission member, is provided to guide the ionic liquid overflowing from the emission member; and

[0037] A storage component, disposed on the flow guiding component, is capable of storing the ionic liquid guided by the flow guiding component.

[0038] In summary, this application uses a flow guiding component to connect adjacent emitting components, and a storage component (with uniformly distributed through holes inside) is located within the flow guiding component. This achieves cooperative operation between the flow guiding component and the storage component. When the ionic liquid is not fully ejected or backflow occurs, and the liquid accumulates near the emitting component and on the substrate, the flow guiding component can guide the ionic liquid into the storage component for storage. Through this structural design, unemitted ionic liquid can be rapidly recovered and stored by the storage component through capillary force. The storage component not only provides space for ionic liquid storage but also prevents ionic liquid from accumulating on the substrate surface through its through-hole structure. Compared to traditional array-type electrospray thrusters that do not employ a special structure to absorb overflow liquid on the array-type substrate surface, resulting in overflow liquid accumulating at the bottom of the emitter or on the substrate surface, significantly affecting the thruster's service life, the cooperative operation of the flow guiding component and the storage component in this application improves the collection and storage capacity of overflow liquid, ensuring that no excess liquid accumulates near the emitter during high-flow or long-term operation, and ensuring stable thrust generation by the thruster. Attached Figure Description

[0039] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0040] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a traditional array-type electro-spray thruster.

[0041] Figure 2 A top view of a microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster provided in this application;

[0042] Figure 3 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster provided in this application;

[0043] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of point A in the image;

[0044] Figure 5 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of point B in the image;

[0045] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the emission component in a microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster provided in this application;

[0046] Figure 7 A cross-sectional schematic diagram along the width direction of one of the guide grooves in a microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster provided in this application;

[0047] Figure 8 A schematic cross-sectional view of one of the guide channels along its extension direction in a microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster provided in this application;

[0048] Figure 9 A plan view of a storage block in a microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster provided in this application.

[0049] Reference numerals: 1'-Emitter; 2'-Arrayed substrate;

[0050] 1-Substrate; 101-Upper surface of the substrate; 102-Lower surface of the substrate; 103-Trench;

[0051] 2-Emitting component; 203-Emitting electrode; 204-Liquid supply channel; 205-Emitting end of the emitter;

[0052] 3-Flow guiding component; 301-Flow guiding channel; 302-Bottom wall of the flow guiding channel; 303-First flow guiding surface; 304-Second flow guiding surface; 305-Third flow guiding surface; 306-Flow guiding gap; 307-First flow guiding rib; 308-Second flow guiding rib;

[0053] 4-Storage component; 401-Storage block; 402-Through hole. Detailed Implementation

[0054] The following detailed embodiments are provided to aid the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein. However, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein will be apparent upon understanding the disclosure of this application. For example, the order of operations described herein is merely illustrative and is not limited to the order presented herein; rather, changes that will be apparent upon understanding the disclosure of this application are possible, except for operations that must occur in a specific order. Furthermore, descriptions of features known in the art may be omitted for clarity and brevity. The features described herein may be implemented in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the examples described herein are provided only to illustrate some of the many possible ways of implementing the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein that will be apparent upon understanding the disclosure of this application. Throughout this specification, when an element (such as a layer, region, or substrate) is described as being "on" another element, "connected to" another element, "bonded to" another element, "on" another element, or "covering" another element, it may be directly "on" another element, "connected to" another element, "bonded to" another element, "on" another element, or "covering" another element, or there may be one or more other elements in between. Conversely, when an element is described as being "directly on" another element, "directly connected to" another element, "directly bonded to" another element, "directly on" another element, or "directly covering" another element, there may be no other elements in between. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any one of the relevant items listed and any combination of any two or more of them. Although terms such as "first," "second," and "third" may be used herein to describe individual components, assemblies, regions, layers, or portions, these components, assemblies, regions, layers, or portions are not limited by these terms. More precisely, these terms are used only to distinguish one component, assembly, region, layer, or part from another. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of the examples described herein, the first component, assembly, region, layer, or part referred to as such in the examples may also be referred to as the second component, assembly, region, layer, or part. For ease of description, spatial relational terms such as “above,” “upper,” “below,” and “lower” may be used herein to describe the relationship between one element and another, as shown in the accompanying drawings. Such spatial relational terms are intended to include not only the orientation depicted in the drawings but also the different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, if the device in the drawings is flipped, an element described as being “above” or “upper” relative to another element will subsequently be “below” or “lower” relative to that other element.Therefore, the term "above" includes both "above" and "below" depending on the spatial orientation of the device. The device may also be positioned in other ways (e.g., oscillating 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relational terms used herein will be interpreted accordingly. The terminology used herein is for describing various examples only and is not intended to limit this disclosure. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" enumerate the stated features, quantities, operations, components, elements, and / or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, operations, components, elements, and / or combinations thereof. Variations in the shapes shown in the figures may occur due to manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances. Therefore, the examples described herein are not limited to the specific shapes shown in the figures but include changes in shape that occur during manufacturing. The features of the examples described herein may be combined in various ways that will be apparent upon understanding the disclosure of this application. Furthermore, although the examples described herein have a wide variety of constructions, other constructions are possible as will be apparent upon understanding the disclosure of this application.

[0055] This application provides a microchannel-porous emitter structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster, which can, to some extent, solve problems in existing array-type thrusters such as short circuits between the emitter and extractor electrodes, discharge instability, and shortened lifespan caused by uneven liquid supply and liquid overflow. This application actively manages overflow liquid by combining precise microchannel guidance with porous material storage, thereby ensuring the long-term stable operation of the thruster. The following describes... Figures 2-9 The structure is described in detail.

[0056] Combination Figures 2 to 5 As shown, the microchannel-porous emission structure of this application mainly includes a substrate 1, an emission component 2, a flow guiding component 3, and a storage component 4. The substrate 1 forms the basic support platform for the entire structure. The substrate 1 is preferably made of a material with high strength, high insulation, high temperature resistance, and good process adaptability, such as photosensitive resin, alumina ceramic, or polyimide that can be formed by photolithography, micro-electrical discharge machining, or high-precision 3D printing technology. Multiple emission poles are planned and processed on the upper surface 101 of the substrate in a preset two-dimensional array (such as a rectangular array or a hexagonal close-packed array). The distribution density and spacing of these emission poles determine the thrust density and uniformity of the thruster; therefore, in actual use, the design can be optimized based on the overall thrust requirements and electric field simulation.

[0057] To precisely install and position each individual emitting unit and form the initial liquid containment and confinement space, a groove 103 is machined or molded on the upper surface 101 of the substrate, corresponding to the position of each emitting electrode, and recessed towards the lower surface 102 of the substrate. The cross-sectional shape of the groove 103 can be circular, square, or other polygonal, and its depth can be calculated according to the actual situation. The groove 103 can accommodate the emitting member 2 and ensure that the active emitting end (the emitting end 205 of the emitting electrode) of the emitting member 2 can protrude from the bottom wall of the groove 103 and further extend to a position significantly higher than the plane of the upper surface 101 of the substrate. The above-mentioned "protruding" design can keep the emitting electrode tip away from the edge interference of the electric field on the substrate surface, which is conducive to the formation of a stable and position-controllable Taylor cone at the emitting electrode tip under high voltage, thereby improving the efficiency and stability of ion emission. At the same time, the sidewall of the groove 103 also constitutes the first physical barrier for liquid overflow, which can temporarily confine most of the excess liquid within a limited local space.

[0058] Within each of the aforementioned tanks 103, a corresponding emitting component 2 is installed. The emitting component 2 is the main body for emitting ionic liquid. However, during actual array operation, due to manufacturing tolerances and the non-uniformity of local electric field strength, it is inevitable that the liquid supply rate of some emitting components 2 will exceed their emission rate, i.e., "over-supply". When over-supply occurs, the ionic liquid that is not emitted in time will accumulate at the root of the emitting component 2 and within the tank 103. If there is a lack of effective drainage measures, the liquid will gradually overflow from the tank 103 and spread to the upper surface 101 of the flat substrate. Since the upper surface 101 of the substrate is usually a hydrophilic material, the liquid spreads very easily and forms a conductive liquid film between adjacent emitting components 2 carrying high voltage, or even directly "bridges", causing a short circuit or abnormal discharge between the emitting component 2 and the grounded extraction electrode, causing the emitting unit to fail and potentially triggering a chain reaction that endangers the entire thruster array.

[0059] To address the aforementioned technical issues related to overflow drainage, the launching component 2 of this application comprises an emitter 203 and a liquid supply channel 204 connected to the emitter 203. Specifically, the base 1 of the array-type electrospray thruster has a top view of a 50mm × 50mm square and a front view height of 5mm. Four × 4 emitters are evenly distributed on the array. A groove 103 with a depth of 0.3mm and a radius of 3mm is formed with the emitting end 205 of each emitter 203 as its center (the groove 103 can, to a certain extent, prevent the emitter tip from being wetted). Multiple fine capillary tubes or needle-shaped emitters 203 are regularly arranged on the array-type base 1. Liquid flows through the liquid supply channel 204, and the propellant is transported to the front end by capillary force along the internal cavity of each emitter. Extraction holes aligned with each emitter 203 are formed on the opposing electrode, allowing the electric field to be geometrically focused within a small volume in front of the hole. Each emitter independently forms a Taylor cone at its front end and continuously emits.

[0060] Specifically, it still combines Figure 6 As shown, a rectangular liquid supply channel 204 is provided at the bottom of two adjacent emitters 203 to uniformly supply liquid to the array. For ease of description, the direction along the array arrangement is defined as the "length direction," the direction of the end face orthogonal to it is defined as the "width direction," and the normal direction is the "depth direction." Therefore, the geometric dimensions of the liquid supply channel 204 are: length L = 9.5 mm, width W = 0.7 mm, and depth D = 0.22 mm. Since adjacent emitters 203 are connected by the liquid supply channel 204, according to Pascal's liquid pressure experiment, the liquid will be uniformly supplied to each emitter.

[0061] In summary, the liquid supply channel 204 (microchannel) is used inside the emitter 203 to ensure the uniformity of liquid distribution and reduce the instability of thrust caused by insufficient / over-supply of liquid due to uneven liquid supply at a certain emitter point in traditional direct liquid supply.

[0062] Secondly, this application provides a flow guiding member 3 on the substrate 1. The flow guiding member 3 can connect to the tank 103 where the adjacent emission member 2 is located, and can provide a preset and controllable flow path for the excess ionic liquid overflowing from a certain tank 103, guiding it away from the high-risk emission area and preventing it from spreading arbitrarily on the upper surface 101 of the substrate.

[0063] Specifically, the flow guiding component 3 includes a flow guiding groove 301. Combined with... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the guide channel 301 is arranged meanderingly between the emitter points of the array, with each segment connected to two adjacent channels 103 at both ends, thus constructing an interconnected microchannel network within the entire array. This microchannel network is similar to a city's drainage system, capable of quickly draining away localized excess "liquid".

[0064] In actual use, the cross-sectional dimensions (width and depth) of the guide channel 301 need to be calculated according to the actual situation. It must ensure sufficient flow capacity to cope with possible overflow peaks, but it cannot be too large and excessively weaken the structural strength of the substrate 1 or cause serious distortion of the electric field distribution between the emitters 203.

[0065] To further improve the flow guiding efficiency of the flow guide channel 301 and achieve active control over the direction and state of liquid flow, this application optimizes the bottom profile of the flow guide channel 301. Combined with... Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the bottom wall 302 of the guide channel is not a simple plane or a single slope, but is formed by three slopes at specific angles connected smoothly in sequence. Specifically, it includes a first guide surface 303, a second guide surface 304, and a third guide surface 305. The first guide surface 303 is formed at one end of the guide channel 301, and is connected to the bottom wall of one of the adjacent tanks 103 at a first preset angle α. The third guide surface 305 is formed at the other end of the guide channel 301, and is connected to the bottom wall of the other adjacent tank 103 at a first preset angle β. That is, the first guide surface 303 and the third guide surface 305 form a smooth transition slope, which enables smoother liquid flow.

[0066] Furthermore, a second guide surface 304 connects the first guide surface 303 and the third guide surface 305. One end of the second guide surface 304 is connected to the end of the first guide surface 303 away from the tank 103 at a third preset angle γ, and the other end is connected to the end of the third guide surface 305 away from the tank 103 at a fourth preset angle δ. Through geometric design, the second guide surface 304 can be in a relatively horizontal or gently inclined state. The above structural design allows liquids flowing in from both sides of the tank 103 to meet, mix, and temporarily slow down in the area of ​​the second guide surface 304, forming a miniature "liquid collection pool". This helps to balance the liquid flow from different directions, avoids liquid blockage or splashing at the connection point, and provides a stable liquid source interface for subsequent storage processes.

[0067] Furthermore, the first and second preset angles are both set to 53°, and the third and fourth preset angles are both set to 127°. At this time, the second guide surface is parallel to the upper surface 101 of the substrate. This combination of angles facilitates the smooth flow of liquid from the tank 103 into the guide channel 301 and forms a stable thin liquid layer in the area of ​​the second guide surface, preventing liquid from accumulating at the connection point.

[0068] However, relying solely on the inclination angle of the smooth bottom of the channel is sometimes insufficient for driving liquids at the microscale, especially in counteracting the "pinning" effect caused by the surface tension of the liquid itself. To enhance the active flow guiding capability of the guide channel 301, particularly by utilizing capillary force to guide liquids under microgravity or low flow conditions, this application incorporates a flow guiding rib structure on the bottom wall 302 of the guide channel. Figure 7 As shown, multiple guide ribs are arranged in parallel at intervals along the width of the guide channel 301. These guide ribs divide the bottom of the channel into a series of parallel, narrow guide gaps 306. The dimensions of these guide gaps 306 are in the micrometer range, and the strong capillary force they generate can effectively "adsorb" and pull the liquid forward, making them particularly suitable for microgravity or low flow rate scenarios.

[0069] Considering that the liquid may deflect or stagnate during flow due to uneven resistance between the guide ribs, the guide ribs in this application do not employ a single height. They are still combined with... Figure 7 As shown, the flow guide ribs are divided into combinations of ribs with two different heights: a first flow guide rib 307 with a smaller height and a second flow guide rib 308 with a larger height. Specifically, two first flow guide ribs 307 are arranged side by side between two adjacent second flow guide ribs 308. This periodic arrangement of "high-low-low-high" forms a flow channel profile of "deep groove-shallow groove-shallow groove-deep groove" in cross-section. The gaps between the higher second flow guide ribs 308 constitute the main flow channel, while the gaps between the first flow guide ribs 307 and the second flow guide ribs 308, as well as the gaps between two first flow guide ribs 307, constitute auxiliary secondary flow channels. The above structural design prevents flow deviation or stagnation. Furthermore, during the actual flow guidance process, the liquid flow first fills the low (short) guidance gap, specifically the guidance gap 306 formed by the two first guidance ribs 307. Once the guidance gap 306 is filled, a thin liquid film forms on its surface. Subsequent flow of more liquid will then be guided over this film. In other words, more liquid will be guided on the liquid surface, resulting in a faster flow rate (Principle: First stage, dry surface filling mode (pre-wetting stage); Initial state: capillary body is dry; Water enters the guidance channel in the form of droplets + capillary filling, forming a continuous thin liquid film between the two first guidance ribs; Velocity is moderate (~500 μm·s)). - ¹). The second stage is the thin liquid film sliding mode (ultra-high speed stage); after the surface is completely wetted, subsequent water slides along the existing thin liquid film with almost no solid-liquid contact resistance, and the speed is increased by more than 20 times.

[0070] Furthermore, taking the upper surface 101 of the substrate as a reference plane, the depth H of the second guiding surface 304 from this reference plane is set between 1.0 mm and 1.5 mm, preferably 1.25 mm, to determine the overall liquid storage depth of the guiding channel. The height h1 of the first guiding rib 307 is set between 0.01 mm and 0.03 mm, preferably 0.02 mm, forming a very shallow secondary capillary channel. The height h2 of the second guiding rib 308 is set between 0.04 mm and 0.06 mm, preferably 0.05 mm, forming a relatively deep main channel. The spacing d between all adjacent ribs, including the gaps between the first guiding ribs 307 and between the first guiding rib 307 and the second guiding rib 308, is uniformly set between 0.04 mm and 0.06 mm, preferably 0.05 mm, thereby ensuring that the capillary force is sufficient to overcome viscous resistance and drive the ionic liquid to move stably forward in the flow channel.

[0071] The aforementioned flow guiding member 3 guides the overflowing liquid, but if this liquid only accumulates in one place in the flow guiding channel, it may still cause an overflow due to excessive accumulation. Therefore, this application provides a storage member 4 to address this technical problem. The storage member can receive the liquid from the flow guiding channel 301 and store it, completely isolating it from the high-pressure emission area while preventing liquid evaporation or backflow.

[0072] Specifically, a preferred embodiment of the storage component 4 employs a separate porous storage block 401, which is placed at a specific location on the guide channel 301, such as the middle or intersection of the guide channel network (e.g., Figure 3 , Figure 4 (As shown).

[0073] Furthermore, the storage block 401 is a component made of a high-porosity material, which has a structure with a regular array of micropores. Combined with... Figure 9 As shown, a large number of through holes 402 penetrating the main body are processed in a two-dimensional array on the storage block 401 by deep reactive ion etching, laser processing, or precision mold forming. These through holes 402 are interwoven and interconnected in three-dimensional space, forming a highly interconnected multi-level channel network. When the storage block 401 is placed into the flow channel 301, its bottom contacts the bottom wall 302 of the flow channel, and its upper surface can be slightly lower than, flush with, or slightly higher than the upper surface 101 of the substrate, preferably slightly lower than or flush with, in order to minimize the disturbance to the electric field.

[0074] In actual use, the liquid from the guide gap 306, upon contacting the bottom of the storage block 401, is immediately captured by the densely packed through-holes 402 on its surface. Due to the tiny size (micrometer level) of the through-holes 402, the resulting capillary pressure is enormous, rapidly "drawing" the liquid into the network of through-holes. Once inside the intricate network of channels, the liquid is dispersed and stored over a large internal surface area, firmly locked in by capillary force, making it difficult for it to flow out automatically. In other words, it provides a "one-way" reservoir for overflowing liquid, and the through-holes 402 ensure that the liquid can diffuse evenly within the storage block, fully utilizing its entire storage volume.

[0075] Furthermore, the cross-section of the through-hole is square, with a side length set between 0.020 mm and 0.030 mm, optionally 0.025 mm. This size range can generate capillary pressures of several hundred to several thousand Pascals for the aforementioned ionic liquid, sufficient to overcome gravity and flow resistance. The wall thickness between adjacent through-holes, i.e., the edge distance, is set between 0.05 mm and 0.15 mm, optionally 0.10 mm, which to a certain extent ensures sufficient mechanical strength of the storage block to prevent the hole walls from collapsing under pressure or vibration. Therefore, the center distance between adjacent through-holes can be calculated to be between 0.120 mm and 0.130 mm, optionally 0.125 mm. In actual use, by adjusting these parameters, the porosity, permeability, and saturated liquid volume of the storage block can be precisely controlled.

[0076] In summary, this application constitutes a progressive and collaborative overflow management system, from the localized tank constraint of the emitter, to the network of guide channels connecting each unit, to the guide rib structure within the tank that enhances capillary actuation, and finally to the porous storage block for centralized storage. During operation, any excess liquid generated by the emitter is confined, guided, transported, and ultimately locked in a dedicated storage block far from hazardous areas, thereby eliminating the risk of short circuits caused by liquid spread.

[0077] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster, characterized in that, include: A substrate on which multiple emitter sites are arranged in an array; The emitting component is disposed on the substrate in a one-to-one correspondence with the emitting pole position, and the emitting end of the emitting component protrudes from the upper surface of the substrate; A flow guiding member is disposed on the substrate and connected to an adjacent emission member to guide the ionic liquid overflowing from the emission member; as well as A storage component, disposed on the flow guiding component, is capable of storing the ionic liquid guided by the flow guiding component; The upper surface of the substrate has a groove that is recessed toward the lower surface of the substrate at the position corresponding to the emitter electrode. The launching end of the launching component protrudes from the bottom wall of the groove; The flow guiding component includes a flow guiding groove; the flow guiding groove is formed in the base, and both ends of the flow guiding groove are respectively connected to the groove of the adjacent launching component; The bottom wall of the guide channel has a first guide surface, a second guide surface, and a third guide surface connected in sequence; The first guide surface is connected to the bottom wall of one of the adjacent tanks at a first preset angle, and the third guide surface is connected to the bottom wall of the other adjacent tank at a second preset angle. One end of the second guide surface is connected to the end of the first guide surface away from the groove at a third preset angle, and the other end of the second guide surface is connected to the end of the third guide surface away from the groove at a fourth preset angle.

2. The microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first preset angle and the second preset angle are both 53°; The third preset angle and the fourth preset angle are 127°, so that the second guide surface is parallel to the upper surface of the substrate.

3. The microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom wall of the flow guide channel is provided with flow guide ribs at intervals along its width direction; A flow guiding gap is formed between adjacent flow guiding ribs.

4. The microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster according to claim 3, characterized in that, The flow guide rib is divided into a first flow guide rib and a second flow guide rib; The height of the first guide rib is less than the height of the second guide rib; Two of the first guide ribs are provided between adjacent second guide ribs.

5. A microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster according to claim 4, characterized in that, With the upper surface of the substrate as the reference plane, the distance between the second flow guiding surface and the reference plane is between 1 mm and 1.5 mm; the height of the first flow guiding rib is between 0.01 mm and 0.03 mm; the height of the second flow guiding rib is between 0.04 mm and 0.06 mm; the spacing between adjacent first flow guiding ribs and second flow guiding ribs, as well as between adjacent first flow guiding ribs, is between 0.04 mm and 0.06 mm.

6. The microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster according to claim 3, characterized in that, The storage component includes a storage block, which is disposed in the flow channel; The storage block has interconnected through holes arranged in an array, and the through holes extend through the outer surface of the storage block, so that the through holes are connected to the flow guide gap.

7. A microchannel-porous emission structure for an array-type ionic liquid electro-injection thruster according to claim 6, characterized in that, The side length of the through hole is set between 0.020 mm and 0.030 mm; the side distance between adjacent through holes is set between 0.05 mm and 0.15 mm; and the center distance between adjacent through holes is set between 0.120 mm and 0.130 mm.

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