Adjustable Conical Intake for Atmosphere-Breathing Electric Thruster
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing atmosphere-breathing electric thrusters face inefficiencies in collecting high-speed atmospheric particles due to misalignment of incoming flow directions, leading to particle rebound and reduced thrust production, particularly in very low earth orbit where drag compensation is critical.
Innovation Solution
A conically shaped intake system with a tapering collector and adjustable sections to optimize particle collection, featuring a thermalization chamber and conical deflection surfaces to prevent rebound and enhance ionization efficiency, coupled with a control system for dynamic adjustments based on environmental and operational parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a static straight grid intake is used to collect high-speed atmospheric particles, then the structure is simple, but particle collection efficiency is reduced due to misalignment of incoming flow directions
Solution Approach 1:
The intake system employs adjustable sections that can dynamically reconfigure their geometry in response to changing atmospheric flow conditions. This allows the intake to adapt to misalignment of incoming particle flows while maintaining structural simplicity, thereby improving particle collection efficiency without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The intake system can modify its geometric parameters (such as channel angles and opening orientations) to optimize particle collection. By changing these parameters dynamically, the system maintains high collection efficiency across varying flow directions while preserving the overall simplicity of the straight grid structure.
2Productivity
If the intake collects more atmospheric particles, then thrust production increases, but particle rebound increases leading to reduced collection efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the kinetic energy of incoming high-speed atmospheric particles and directs it through the adjustable intake sections to enhance particle confinement and transmission to the thruster. By properly orienting the intake channels, the system converts what would be harmful rebound effects into beneficial particle guidance, improving both collection efficiency and thrust production.
3Productivity
If the intake is designed for specific flow directions, then particle collection is optimized, but adaptability to varying atmospheric conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable sections of the intake system enable it to adapt to varying atmospheric flow directions and conditions. This dynamic capability allows the intake to maintain optimized particle collection efficiency across different orbital positions and atmospheric densities, significantly improving adaptability while preserving high productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The conically shaped intake system increases the collection and transmission of atmospheric particles, enhancing thrust production and enabling spacecraft to compensate for drag-induced decay, potentially allowing indefinite orbit operation without additional propellant.
Implementation Method 1
a collector arranged between the inlet and the outlet comprising at least one channel for allowing inflowing atmosphere particles to pass through the at least one channel towards the outlet, the at least one channel defining an inlet area and a length; wherein the collector has a conical shape tapering towards the outlet
Implementation Method 2
featuring a thermalization chamber and conical deflection surfaces to prevent rebound and enhance ionization efficiency
Implementation Method 3
conical deflection surfaces to prevent rebound and enhance ionization efficiency
Implementation Method 4
the outlet for coupling to the thruster for fueling collected atmosphere particles to the thruster
Implementation Method 5
an atmosphere-breathing electric thruster (ABET)
Data Source
AI summary
An intake system for an atmosphere-breathing electric thruster is disclosed, comprising an inlet for inflow of atmosphere particles, an outlet for coupling to the thruster for fueling collected atmosphere particles to the thruster, a collector arranged between the inlet and the outlet comprising multiple channels for allowing inflowing atmosphere particles to pass through the channels towards the outlet, the channels defining an inlet area and a length, wherein a position of at least part of the channels is adjustable to alter at least one of the inlet area and the length.