Power plants – Reaction motor – Ion motor
Patent
1992-08-25
1993-12-14
Bertsch, Richard A.
Power plants
Reaction motor
Ion motor
H05H 100
Patent
active
052691314
ABSTRACT:
Apparatus and methods for large-area, high-power ion engines comprise dividing a single engine into a combination of smaller discharge chambers (or segments) configured to operate as a single large-area engine. This segmented ion thruster (SIT) approach enables the development of 100-kW class argon ion engines for operation at a specific impulse of 10,000 s. A combination of six 30-cm diameter ion chambers operating as a single engine can process over 100 kW. Such a segmented ion engine can be operated from a single power processor unit.
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Bertsch Richard A.
Jones Thomas H.
Kusmiss John H.
Miller Guy M.
Richman Howard R.
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