MAGNETOPLASMADYNAMIC ENGINE AND METHOD OF ITS OPERATION Russian patent published in 2009 - IPC F03H1/00 

FIELD: engines and pumps.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to electrical rocket engines. The proposed magnetoplasmadynamic engine incorporates anode, neutral insert, isolators, mounting flange, cathode-evaporator furnished with multi-strip cathode, evaporator of lithium, tank with barium-based activator and heater. The aforesaid ring-shaped tank is made from refractory metal and envelopes the heater and evaporator of lithium. It houses a high-porosity insert impregnated with activating substance. One end face of the said tank is coupled with the mounting flange and, with the other one, is tightly jointed to the cathode evaporator of lithium. Note here that the tank wall communicating with the cathode inner space features metered orifices arranged regularly along the circumference. The method of operating the aforesaid engine consisting in measuring discharge current and working fluid flow rate values and keeping them constant, additionally comprises measuring the voltage between cathode and neutral insert. Given a 12% to 15% increase in the said voltage, the cathode heater is switched on.

EFFECT: simpler design, reduced weight.