Patent ID: 6834492
Filing Date: 2004-12-28
Classification: F03H,H05H

Abstract:
An air breathing electrically powered Hall effect thruster comprising:a thruster duct having an inlet, an exit, and a discharge zone between said inlet and said exit for receiving air from the inlet into the discharge zone; an electrical circuit having a cathode for emitting electrons and an anode in said discharge zone for attracting the electrons from said cathode through the exit; a magnetic circuit for establishing a radial magnetic field in said discharge zone across the duct between the anode and exit which creates an impedance to the flow of electrons toward the anode and enables ionization of the air moving through the discharge zone and which creates an axial electric field in said duct for accelerating ionized air through the exit to create thrust; and a screen at the inlet for repelling electrons emitted from said cathode.