IONIC POWER PLANT FOR SPACECRAFTS Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC B64G1/40 

FIELD: transport.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to spacecraft electric power systems. The proposed ionic power plant (PP) includes working medium source made in the form of aluminium-27 isotope storage and feed system with source of vapours (SV) of this isotope. The PP also contains neutraliser, accelerating system, collision chamber (CC) and magnetic system connected with electric power source via converter. Outlet of SV is connected with CC. The PP comprises heat exchangers to heat SV and CC which exchangers are connected with source of thermal energy, as well as sources of alpha-particles (radio-nuclides) built into CC. The inner surface of CC is coated with layer of high-porous structure made of boron carbide and beryllium oxide mixture. SV and CC are heated to temperature not less than aluminium-27 boiling temperature (at negative pressure existing in the CC). Aluminium vapours are exposed to radiation of alpha-particles in the CC. Herewith, along with ionisation, some nuclear reactions yielding highest-energy particles and gammas are executed. For example it could be expected to get speeds about 2.5·10⁴ m/s for silicium-30 nuclears and about 3·10⁷ m/s for some portion of neutrons.

EFFECT: lower power consumption for working medium ionisation (higher coefficient of efficiency of PP) and higher specific impulse of PP.

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