METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A STATIONARY PLASMA ENGINE Russian patent published in 2018 - IPC F03H1/00 

FIELD: rocket construction.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the study and exploitation of a stationary plasma electric propulsion system. In a method involving engine starting, comparing the measured values of the discharge current with the upper permissible value of it, and in the case of exceeding the limit value, switching off the engine and following engine starting. Before starting the engine, determine the range of exceeding the allowable value of the discharge current determine the permissible time interval of the engine stay under the abnormal current load and the time interval of the motor protection from the abnormal current load for each value of the range, and while engine is running, in case of exceeding the permissible interval of engine time under abnormal load, make it shutdown and then turn on after the time interval of the motor protection from an abnormal current load. In case of compliance with the permissible time interval of engine under abnormal load, the frequency of anomalous excesses is fixed at a stated interval and if the permissible frequency is exceeded, the engine is switched off and then switched on through the engine protection interval defined for the maximum measured value of the discharge current at the stated interval, also control the number of engine shutdowns caused by exceeding the permissible values of the discharge current over the entire engine operating interval and in case of exceeding the permissible number of shutdowns, after the last shutdown, which exceeded the permissible number, the following switching-on of the engine is stopped.

EFFECT: invention makes it possible to increase fail-safety of stationary plasma electric propulsion systems.

1 cl, 2 dwg