Charged Particle Thrust Engine Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ion jet engines operating in atmospheric conditions face inefficiencies due to high power input required for low thrust production, primarily because of energy wastage in creating charged particles and inefficient energy transfer to neutral reaction mass molecules, exacerbated by the mean free path and space charge generated reverse electric fields.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves decoupling ion generation from ion acceleration, optimizing electrode configurations to reduce the reverse electric field, using diffusion currents to counteract space charge limitations, and segmenting the engine to control the velocity and distribution of charged particles, thereby enhancing thrust and efficiency by improving energy transfer to neutral reaction mass molecules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ion jet engines are used in atmospheric conditions, then propulsion is achieved, but energy efficiency is very low due to high power input required for low thrust production
Solution Approach 1:
The engine is divided into multiple electrode segments that create multiple ionization and acceleration zones. This segmentation allows for more efficient energy transfer by creating distributed ion generation regions, reducing the total power input needed while maintaining thrust output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a grid electrode structure as an intermediary between the ionization region and acceleration region. This grid allows ions to pass through while maintaining electric field control, improving the coupling between ion generation and acceleration processes, and reducing energy losses.
2Force
If high voltage is applied between electrodes to ionize and accelerate ions, then thrust is produced, but energy is wasted in creating charged particles and inefficient energy transfer occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ionization function from the acceleration function by using separate electrode regions. Ionization occurs in one region while acceleration occurs in another, allowing each process to be optimized independently and reducing the energy waste associated with combined processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the voltage and current parameters across different electrode segments to maximize ion production efficiency and acceleration efficiency separately. By adjusting these parameters independently in different regions, energy waste is reduced while maintaining thrust output.
3Speed
If the mean free path and space charge generated reverse electric field are present, then ion acceleration occurs, but energy transfer to neutral reaction mass molecules becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a continuous ionization and acceleration process through multiple electrode segments, ensuring that ions are continuously generated and accelerated. This continuous action improves energy transfer efficiency by maintaining optimal interaction between charged and neutral particles throughout the engine length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a grid electrode structure that introduces a new spatial dimension for field control. This allows the electric field to be shaped in multiple dimensions, optimizing the interaction between ions and neutral molecules while accounting for mean free path effects.
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
This approach significantly increases thrust efficiency and reduces energy consumption, allowing for more effective propulsion in atmospheric conditions by optimizing the interaction between charged particles and neutral reaction mass molecules, leading to higher thrust output with lower energy input.
Implementation Method 1
charged particles are accelerated by electric fields produced by potential differences between the electrodes
Implementation Method 2
The accelerated charged particles travel a sufficient distance in the medium so that collisions of the accelerated charged particles with atoms and/or molecules of the medium result in the transfer of energy and momentum from the charged particles to the neutral atoms or molecules
Implementation Method 3
The space charge limited current flow through the medium can be increased through the use of diffusion currents
Data Source
AI summary
Several methods of increasing the thrust and energy efficiency of charged particle jet engines operating in a gaseous or liquid medium have been developed. We identify the three main components of charged particle thrust generation and provide means to take maximum advantage of each. We also describe several methods to reduce the energy associated with the generation of charged particles and to minimize the number of charged particles needed to further increase energy efficiency. In addition to the methods used to increase thrust and energy efficiency, we have also developed several methods of efficiently controlling the amount and direction of thrust. Finally, we show many uses of these charged particle jet engines and ways to control them.