Nano-particle MEMS Thruster Grid Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ion thrusters face limitations such as inefficient ionization, significant propellant loss, and reduced lifetime due to plasma interactions with walls and grid structures, while Field Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) thrusters are difficult to scale up for high power applications due to the size requirements of needle-like emitters.
Innovation Solution
A propulsion system utilizing a grid with MEMS and NEMS micron-size vias to establish electrical fields for extracting and accelerating nano-particles, which are suspended in a liquid and charged using electrodes, allowing them to overcome surface tension and be accelerated for thrust generation, enabling scalable and efficient propulsion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If needle-like emitters are used in FEEP thrusters to achieve high specific impulse and electrical efficiency, then propulsion efficiency is improved, but the footprint size increases significantly making scaling to multi-kW power levels difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the emitter into an array of micropillar structures with individual emission sites, replacing the single large needle emitter. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high power levels by combining the output of many small emission sites while maintaining a compact overall footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point needle emitter to a two-dimensional array of micropillars. This dimensional change enables the system to scale power output by adding more emission sites in the lateral direction without proportionally increasing the footprint area.
2Productivity
If conventional ion thrusters are used to generate plasma propulsion, then thrust is produced, but ionization efficiency is low and propellant is lost through plasma interactions with walls and grid
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and accelerates pre-formed charged particles (ions or charged droplets) directly without requiring plasma generation in the propulsion path. By removing the plasma generation step from the propulsion process, the system eliminates energy losses associated with plasma-wall interactions and grid discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a charge exchange surface (emitter array) that efficiently charges propellant particles before they enter the acceleration region. This intermediary charging mechanism replaces the inefficient plasma ionization process, achieving higher charge-to-mass ratios with less propellant loss.
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 nano-particle thruster system achieves high efficiency and extended lifetime by controlling specific impulse and thrust through precise charge-to-mass ratios of nano-particles, reducing beam divergence and eliminating plasma-related issues, thus offering a scalable and efficient propulsion solution.
Implementation Method 1
The grid is operable to establish electrical fields to extract and accelerate a plurality of nano-particles to provide propulsion system thrust
Implementation Method 2
gate structures generate both an electric field and an electrostatic force, the electrostatic force is operable to lift the particles off the electrode
Implementation Method 3
overcome a surface tension force of the liquid allowing the particles to escape through the surface of the liquid
Implementation Method 4
field focusing the electric field on a tip of the particles to rotate the particles from a first orientation having a longitudinal axis of the particles substantially parallel to the electrode to a second orientation substantially perpendicular to both the electrode and a surface of the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A scalable flat-panel nano-particle MEMS/NEMS thruster includes a grid having a plurality of electrodes to establish electrical fields. A liquid is disposed in a liquid reservoir of the grid. The liquid is positioned within the electrical fields. A plurality of nano-particles are suspended in the liquid. A plurality of MEMS and NEMS micron-size vias are disposed in the grid. The electrical fields extract the plurality of nano-particles from the liquid and accelerate the nano-particles in the vias to provide propulsion system thrust.