ABLATIVE PULSE PLASMA ENGINE Russian patent published in 2018 - IPC F03H1/00 

FIELD: engines and pumps; astronautics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to space vehicle engines. Ablative pulse plasma engine (APPE) contains parallel located flat cathode and anode forming a discharge channel. Two dielectric checkers made of ablating material are installed between the cathode and the anode from opposite sides of the discharge channel symmetrically with respect to its longitudinal median plane, oriented perpendicular to the flat working surfaces of the cathode and the anode and dividing the discharge channel into two equal parts in volume. Moving dielectric blocks device ensures their feeding in the direction of the longitudinal median plane. Between the cathode and the anode there is an end insulator that forms the closed end part of the discharge channel. In the opening of the cathode are located the electrodes of the device for initiating an electric discharge. Current leads that connect the discharge electrodes to a capacitive energy storage device include two power sections having a planar shape and located between the cathode and the anode perpendicularly to their flat working surfaces. Power sections are electrically isolated relative to each other and located outside the discharge channel in a plane parallel to the closed end part of the discharge channel, symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal median plane between the planes passing through the side surfaces of the discharge electrodes. First power section is connected from one side with the cathode, and from the opposite side, located opposite the end part of the anode, with a negative polarity contact of the capacitive accumulator. Second power section is connected from one side with the anode, and from the opposite side, located opposite the end part of the cathode, with a positive polarity contact of the capacitive accumulator.

EFFECT: invention allows to increase the average mass velocity of plasma outflow from the discharge channel and the specific impulse of the APPE, to simplify the design of the APPE and to increase its reliability.

4 cl, 5 dwg