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EHD Thruster stands for Electrohydrodynamic thruster. This is the general and most appropriate term used for high voltage propulsion devices in which, unlike their relative ion thruster family, do not need to carry their own gas supply, although they still require to carry their own electrical power source or generator. Also, unlike related propulsion devices, they require the atmosphere for their operation and cannot operate in space or vacuum. Electrohydrodynamics (EHD), is the academic discipline which studies the dynamics of electrically-conducting fluids. ...
An ion engine test An ion thruster is one of several types of spacecraft propulsion that uses beams of ions for propulsion. ...
What is an EHD thruster
An EHD thruster is a propulsion device based on ionic air propulsion, that works without moving parts, uses only electrical energy and is able to fly autonomously and carry additional cargo. The principle of ionic air propulsion with corona generated charged particles has been known as from the earliest days of the discovery of electricity, with references dating back to year 1709 in a book titled 'Physico-Mechanical Experiments on Various Subjects' by F.Hauksbee. The first publicly demonstrated tethered model was developed by Major De Seversky in the form of an Ionocraft. De Severski contributed a lot to its basic physics and its construction variations during the year 1960 and has in fact patented his device on patent no: US3130945 in April 28, 1964. Only electric fields are used in this propulsion method. The basic components of an EHD thruster are two: an air ioniser and an Ion accelerator. The ionocraft and the Lifter form part of this category, but their efficiency is severely limited to less than 1% energy conversion efficiency by the fact that the ioniser and accelerating mechanisms are not independent. Unlike the Lifter, within an EHD thruster, the air gap in its second stage is not restricted or related to the Corona discharge voltage of its ionising stage. This article needs cleanup. ...
A particle accelerator uses electric fields to propel charged particles to great energies. ...
The Lifter is an electrokinetic, or electrohydrodynamic device. ...
Electrohydrodynamics (EHD), is the academic discipline which studies the dynamics of electrically-conducting fluids. ...
A thruster is a small propulsive device used by spacecraft and watercraft for station keeping, attitude control, or long duration low thrust acceleration. ...
In electricity, a corona discharge is an electrical discharge brought on by the ionization of a fluid surrounding a conductor, which occurs when the potential gradient exceeds a certain value, in situations where sparking is not favoured. ...
EHD thruster operation The first stage consists of a powerful air ioniser, which when supplied by high voltage in the kilovolt range, ionises the intake air into ion clouds to be fed into the second stage of the device. The second stage consists of one or multiple stages of ion accelerators, powered by voltages in the kilovolt or megavolt range, in which the ionised air is moved along a straight path along the length of the accelerating unit. Movement of the ion clouds can be electronically controlled to increase the effective efficiency. Within this path, the ions travel at a constant drift velocity and multiple impacts occur with the neutral gases present in the accelerating unit, which is open to the atmosphere. In accordance with Newton's Third Law of motion, the thruster will be acted upon an equal and opposite force to the total force exerted by the ions over the neutral air within the second stage. Optionally, the temperature, pressure and gas constituents may be synthesised within the accelarating stage to increase the efficiency of momentum transfer between the charged ions and the neutral air molecules. The charged ions are then neutralised on their exit from the second stage. A well engineered EHD thruster can achieve a high degree of electrical to mechanical conversion efficiency with the correct design parameters. This article needs cleanup. ...
In the physical sciences, potential difference is the difference in potential between two points in a conservative vector field. ...
The drift velocity is the average velocity that a particle, such as an electron, attains, due to an electric field. ...
Newtons laws of motion are the three scientific laws which Isaac Newton discovered concerning the behaviour of moving bodies. ...
A thruster is a small propulsive device used by spacecraft and watercraft for station keeping, attitude control, or long duration low thrust acceleration. ...
In physics, as defined by Asimov, a force is that which can impose a change of velocity on a material body. ...
In physics, momentum is a physical quantity related to the velocity and mass of an object. ...
See also An ion engine test An ion thruster is one of several types of spacecraft propulsion that uses beams of ions for propulsion. ...
2 kW Laboratory Hall Thruster in operation at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory A Hall effect thruster is a type of ion thruster in which the propellant is accelerated by an electric field in a plasma discharge with a radial magnetic field. ...
Magneto-Plasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters are a form of electric Propulsion which use the Lorentz force (a force exerted on charged particles by magnetic and electrical fields in combination) to generate thrust. ...
A remote camera captures a close-up view of a Space Shuttle Main Engine during a test firing at the John C. Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi Spacecraft propulsion is used to change the velocity of spacecraft and artificial satellites, or in short, to provide delta-v. ...
2 kW Laboratory Hall Thruster in operation at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory A Hall effect thruster is a type of ion thruster in which the propellant is accelerated by an electric field in a plasma discharge with a radial magnetic field. ...
Field Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) is an advanced electrostatic propulsion concept that uses liquid metal (usually either caesium or indium) as a propellant. ...
Pulsed inductive thrusters or PITs as they are commonly abbreviated are a form of spacecraft propulsion that uses perpendicular electric and magnetic fields to accelerate a propellant. ...
A Magnetohydrodynamic drive or MHD propulsor, is a method proposed for propelling seagoing vessels. ...
External links - Blaze Labs Research - Introduction to EHD thrusters
- Blaze Labs Research - Why EHD thrusters will not work in a vacuum
- Blaze Labs Research - Ionocraft mathematical analysis & design solutions (.pdf format, 120kb)
- Plasma propulsion in space
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