Pulsed electrothermal thruster
US4821509A · kind A · utility
36Cited by
9References
9Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 7, 1987 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 7, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF03H1/0012
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A plasma electrothermal thruster includes a capillary passage in which a plasma discharge is formed and directed out of an open end of the passage into a supersonic nozzle. Liquid supplied to the capillary passage becomes partially atomized to cool a confining surface of the passage. The plasma discharge is formed as the atomized liquid flows out of the open end into a supersonic equilibrium nozzle. The discharge can have a duration greater than the two way travel time of acoustic energy in the capillary to cause the plasma to flow continuously through the nozzle during the time of the discharge pulse.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.