Hall-effect thruster particle concentrator for high altitude operation
Solution Overview
Problem
Hall-effect thrusters with atmospheric gas as propellant are limited to operating below 100 km altitude due to low atmospheric density, making them unsuitable for satellite maneuvers in higher orbits.
Innovation Solution
A Hall-effect thruster design featuring a particle concentrator with a parabolic shape and a magnetic circuit generating a radial magnetic field, which collects and accelerates particles to increase density and enable thrust generation at higher altitudes, allowing operation up to 300 km.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional Hall-effect thruster is used with atmospheric gas as propellant, then it can compensate atmospheric drag and extend satellite lifetime in low orbit, but it cannot operate above 100 km altitude due to atmospheric rarefaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by positioning a particle concentrator upstream of the thruster channel to pre-concentrate atmospheric particles before they enter the acceleration zone. This preparatory concentration enables the thruster to operate at higher altitudes where atmospheric density is naturally lower, effectively extending the operational altitude range from 100 km to 300 km and above.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the thruster operates at higher altitude, then it can enable satellite transfer to higher orbits, but the atmospheric density is too low to provide sufficient particles for thrust generation
Solution Approach 1:
The particle concentrator serves as an intermediary device between the sparse atmospheric particles at high altitude and the thruster acceleration channel. It mediates the particle supply by collecting and concentrating particles from a larger volume into a focused beam that enters the thruster, thereby compensating for the low atmospheric density at altitudes above 100 km.
Solution Approach 2:
The concentrator uses a parabolic geometry that transforms the spatial distribution of particles from a diffuse three-dimensional atmospheric volume into a concentrated one-dimensional beam along the thrust axis. This dimensional transformation effectively increases particle density in the thruster channel despite the low ambient atmospheric density at high altitudes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a particle concentrator with parabolic shape is added, then particles can be concentrated to enable high altitude operation, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the particle concentrator function with the existing thruster structure by integrating the concentrator as a upstream component that feeds directly into the acceleration channel. The magnetic field generation is also integrated into the channel walls, combining multiple functions (particle concentration, acceleration, and magnetic field confinement) into a unified structure rather than separate systems.
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 thruster effectively compensates for low atmospheric density by concentrating particles into a focused zone, enabling sustained thrust and orbital adjustments at higher altitudes without the need for additional propellant.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic circuit for generating a magnetic field in the channel axially downstream of the anode, the magnetic field being directed in a substantially radial direction with respect to the thrust axis
Implementation Method 2
an electrical circuit comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrical voltage source to emit electrons via the cathode and to attract electrons via the anode
Implementation Method 3
Hall-effect thruster with atmospheric gas as propellant
Data Source
AI summary
A Hall-effect thruster (10), configured to be arranged inside or outside a spacecraft.The thruster has a concentrator (36) for collecting particles (P).The shape of the concentrator is defined by a continuous contour (C1) wrapped around the thrust axis and is such that on a major portion of the contour, each section of the concentrator perpendicular to the contour has a parabolic shape and has a focus (F1) belonging to the contour (C1).In addition, the magnetic circuit (50) is arranged so as to generate the magnetic field (B) in the vicinity of the contour (C1).