Patent ID: 11878818
Assignee: PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 8:
9. A microthruster for a spacecraft, comprising:
a water supply port having a central axis;
a water reservoir bounded by a reservoir upper wall and a reservoir lower wall; and
a nozzle throat in fluid communication with the water reservoir, the nozzle throat defining a cross sectional area equal to or less than 20 square micrometers (20 μm2); and
a heating element in thermal communication with the water reservoir, wherein the reservoir upper wall or the reservoir lower wall is partially covered by the heating element, the heating element is configured to contact water within the water reservoir, the heating element is positioned along the reservoir upper wall or the reservoir lower wall, the central axis of the water supply port intersects the heating element, the heating element is spaced at least 1 μm from the nozzle throat, and the heating element is configured and adapted to heat water in the water reservoir, increase the pressure within the water reservoir, and cause the water to be expelled from the nozzle throat.