Unified chemical electric propulsion system
US9145216B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 31, 2011 |
| Grant date | Sep 29, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF03H1/0075
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A spacecraft propulsion system has at least one chemical thruster, at least one electric thruster, a propellant supply arrangement that stores a propellant and a propellant conditioning arrangement configured to convert propellant into chemical species in a thermodynamic phase that can be readily ionized. The propellant is commonly supplied from the propellant storage device to each of the chemical thruster and the electric thruster. The chemical thruster has a gas generator and a high thrust accelerator; the electric thruster has a plasma generator and a high specific impulse accelerator. The propellant supply arrangement is configured to control flow of the propellant from the propellant supply arrangement to the gas generator and the propellant conditioning arrangement, and a first flow path connects propellant supply arrangement with the gas generator, and a second flow path connects propellant supply arrangement with the plasma generator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.