Patent ID: 7530219
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: F03H

Abstract:
1. A pulsed plasma thruster comprising: a cylindrical plasma generating section having an annular cross-section with at least one propellant feed opening; an exhaust section having a minimum radius and a diverging section that is located within the plasma generating section to provide thrust with an increased electromagnetic component and the exhaust section being substantially electrically conducting to form an annular electrode and nozzle; a central electrode, mounted on a conductive shaft, being centrally located within the plasma generating section; an insulating member secured to and separating the central electrode from the annular electrode; an insulating sleeve positioned about the conductive shaft and secured to the insulating member; at least one solid propellant bar that forms an ionized gas as a result of being heated, a first end of the propellant bar being radially fed through the at least one opening of the plasma generating section; and a means for initiating an electric arc between the central electrode and the annular electrode to generate an electric arc having a current path across a surface portion of the solid propellant bar, such that propellant material is heated to produce ionized gas, which is electromagnetically expelled from the thruster at high velocity to produce thrust.