CLOSED-ELECTRON-DRIFT PLASMA-JET ENGINE Russian patent published in 2002 - IPC

FIELD: space engineering; electric-rocket engine units, stationary plasma-jet and anode-layer engines of high power rating. SUBSTANCE: engine has discharge chamber 1 with ionization and acceleration zones which is formed by bottom 2, inner and outer walls 3 and 4; its space 5 accommodates annular gas-distributing anode 6 incorporating current duct 7 and working gas duct 9 with electric and gas isolator 9 in-between incorporating separating and insulating sleeve 10; magnetic system incorporating internal and external magnetic poles 11 and 12 which form working magnetic gap in vicinity of discharge-chamber channel cut 15; magnetic circuit 15 with internal and external magnetic shields 16 and 17 mounted in a spaced relation to opposing magnetic poles; internal and external magnetizing-force sources 18 and 19; external cylindrical yoke 20; cowling 21 that mounts magnetic system and is provided with engine locating surface; and at least one compensating cathode 23; disposed between magnetic circuit and cowling locating surface in a spaced relation is heat line 24 with at least two radial lugs 25 which is in thermal contact with magnetic circuit at location point of internal magnetizingforce source; cowling has at least two slots 26 on locating surface end and cooler 28 on its external end mounted in a spaced relation; heat-line lugs are arranged in cowling slots and joined with cooler. Magnetic circuit is monoblock structure 37. Heat line, yoke with cowling, cooler, and external magnetic pole may be covered with coating of emissivity factor not lower than 0.8. EFFECT: reduced thermal stress, enhanced vibration strength and electrical endurance, as well as reduced size of engine. 20 cl, 4 dwg