IMPULSE EROSION PLASMA ENGINE Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: plasma engineering; electric rocket engines for space units. SUBSTANCE: engine has rail-type acceleration channel 1 whose top and bottom walls are formed by cathode 2 and anode 3 connected through resistive and inductive loads to plates of capacitor 4 and side walls, by solid-insulation grains 5 that function as active material mounted for displacement up to stop by lock 6 provided in this case on cathode 2 and rigidly fixed to cathode 2 and anode 3 to isolate their end ceramic insulator 7, as well as igniter 8 mounted in cathode 2. Ceramic insulator 7 has depression 10 on surface facing acceleration channel 1 its depth being at least 3 mm; igniter 8 is mounted in mentioned depression. EFFECT: improved stability of thrust characteristics due to more uniform evaporation of active material from grain surfaces. 1 cl, 3 dwg