Dual mode hybrid electric thruster

Details Dual mode hybrid electric thruster Dual mode hybrid electric thruster

2008-07-08

2008-07-08

Rodriguez, William H (Department: 3746)

Power plants

Reaction motor

Ion motor

C060S204000

Reexamination Certificate

active

11050613

ABSTRACT:
An invention is provided for a dual mode hybrid electric thruster propulsion system. The dual mode hybrid electric thruster provides low thrust using ion/plasma exhaust only, and high thrust by mixing a neutral molecular gas with the ion/plasma exhaust. The dual mode hybrid electric thruster includes a main propellant duct defining a main propellant intake. Coupled to the main propellant duct is an accelerating element, which includes an ionization chamber and an exhaust output. In addition, a momentum exchange zone is located at the exhaust output of the accelerating element. The momentum exchange zone includes a secondary propellant duct defining a secondary propellant intake, which provides a secondary propellant into the momentum exchange zone. In high-thrust mode, the momentum exchange zone exchanges momentum between high velocity ions from the accelerating element with atoms of the secondary propellant.

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