ELECTRIC ROCKET ENGINE PLANT AND METHOD OF ITS OPERATION Russian patent published in 2007 - IPC F03H1/00 

FIELD: electric rocket engines.

SUBSTANCE: in proposed electric rocket engine plant containing electric rocket engine with discharge chamber and cathode connected by pipeline with cylinder filled with high purity xenon, container is installed additionally provided with heater and filled with iodine and connected with anode of discharge chamber, both pipeline and anode being furnished with heaters. According to proposed method of operation, iodine in form of gas obtained by sublimation from solid state is delivered to anode at temperature of iodine set and maintained within 70 and 110° C. Simultaneously with heating of cathode, pipeline of anode of discharge chamber and anode are heated to temperature whose value is set not lower than temperature of iodine, and when engine comes to nominal rating conditions, heating of anode is stopped.

EFFECT: reduced cost of working medium and experimental development of engine, reduced mass and dimensions of engine plant.

3 cl, 1 dwg