A Colloid Engine Accelerator Concept

Abstract

A concept for a colloid engine with an electrodynamic linear accelerator is described. The charged particle source is a standard colloid engine with an extractor voltage that has an AC componen.t Downstream of the extractor, a series of accelerator gates are biased alternately with an AC voltage such that the charged droplets tend to remain in regions with positive electric fields. Since the droplet speed varies with their position in the accelerator, and the alternating voltage is of a constant frequency, the gate spacing must change with length. This variation in gate spacing may be determined analytically. This paper attempts to predict some of the potential performance advantages and disadvantages of such an engine. Also, design issues are explored, with special attention to potential problem areas.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 20, 2002
Accession Number
ADA408555

Entities

People

  • D. Kirtley
  • J. M. Fife

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Efficiency
  • Electric Fields
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Engines
  • Extraction
  • Field Emission
  • Flow Rate
  • Frequency
  • High Acceleration
  • High Voltage
  • Linear Accelerators
  • Military Research
  • Small Satellites
  • Thrust
  • Thrusters

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster