98:
thrusters in all sizes and thrust ranges. These properties give the nano electrokinetic thrusters very good thrust control which makes it applicable for a wide range of spacecraft ranging from maneuvering thrusters for small spacecraft, such as satellites, to the primary propulsion system of interplanetary or interstellar spacecraft. This system also doesn't require additional
114:
The production of the required carbon nano tubes is very expensive and with current production methods the amount of surface defects in the produced carbon nano tubes is high which reduces the efficiency significantly and makes it unreliable. This design also requires a high potential difference in
97:
Nano electrokinetic thrusters have a very high efficiency, specific impulse, exhaust velocity and thrust-to-power ratio which make them suitable for a wide variety of applications. Due to the fact that a thruster is made up out of an array of multiple nano thrusters it is easily possible to design
83:
of the electrolyte (amount of ions it contains) also vary the balance between thrust, efficiency and maximal exhaust velocity (determines the maximal achievable flight velocity). It is also theoretically possible to achieve a very high
67:. The amount of thrust created by one nano thruster is in the micro newton range, however due to its size it makes sense to arrange a large number in an array to achieve sufficient thrust. The thrust, exit velocity of the
88:
of nearly 100% as well as a high specific impulse and high thrust-to-power ratio. This system has not yet been built and experimentally tested because of difficulties with the production of the nano-tubes needed for it.
59:
at the ends of the tube over which a voltage is applied. Due to this voltage the ions in the electrolyte stored in a reservoir directly connected to the tube can be accelerated and ejected. This way
35:-to-power ratio as well as a high final velocity which makes it suitable for a wide variety of applications. Due to difficulties in the production of the needed
138:
Diez, F.J.; Hernaiz, G.; Miranda, J.J.; Sureda, M. (February–March 2013). "On the capabilities of nano electrokinetic thrusters for space propulsion".
115:
the range of 300 to 500 volts as well as a sufficient storage tank for the liquid electrolyte needed which increase the weight of the overall system.
106:
to protect the rest of the space craft which make the system (not including fuel compartment) light in comparison to other designs.
208:
203:
174:
147:
103:
60:
155:
36:
28:
24:
151:
72:
64:
197:
159:
51:
through a very small tube in the nano-meter range. To achieve this flow there is a
99:
48:
85:
79:
which makes it easy to regulate those parameters. The applied voltage and the
47:
The principle of electro-osmosis or electroosmotic flow creates a flow of an
76:
52:
32:
23:
is a theoretical space propulsion system based on the principle of
56:
68:
80:
175:"ELECTROKINETIC NANOTHRUSTERS AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF"
75:of the electrolyte are influenced by the applied
27:(also electroosmotic flow). It allows for a high
8:
39:experimental testing has not yet started.
123:
133:
131:
129:
127:
7:
16:Theoretical space propulsion system
14:
160:10.1016/j.actaastro.2012.09.020
1:
21:Nano electrokinetic thruster
225:
209:Hypothetical technology
204:Spacecraft propulsion
63:is transformed into
152:2013AcAau..83...97D
104:radiation shielding
140:Acta Astronautica
61:electrical energy
216:
189:
188:
186:
184:
179:
170:
164:
163:
135:
37:carbon nanotubes
29:specific impulse
224:
223:
219:
218:
217:
215:
214:
213:
194:
193:
192:
182:
180:
177:
172:
171:
167:
137:
136:
125:
121:
112:
95:
45:
25:electro-osmosis
17:
12:
11:
5:
222:
220:
212:
211:
206:
196:
195:
191:
190:
173:Garias, Diez.
165:
122:
120:
117:
111:
108:
94:
91:
73:mass flow rate
65:kinetic energy
44:
41:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
221:
210:
207:
205:
202:
201:
199:
176:
169:
166:
161:
157:
153:
149:
145:
141:
134:
132:
130:
128:
124:
118:
116:
110:Disadvantages
109:
107:
105:
101:
92:
90:
87:
82:
78:
74:
70:
66:
62:
58:
54:
50:
42:
40:
38:
34:
30:
26:
22:
181:. Retrieved
168:
143:
139:
113:
96:
46:
20:
18:
183:10 November
49:electrolyte
43:Description
198:Categories
146:: 97–107.
119:References
93:Advantages
86:efficiency
31:and high
81:pH-value
71:and the
148:Bibcode
77:voltage
55:and an
53:cathode
33:thrust
178:(PDF)
57:anode
185:2014
100:heat
69:ions
19:The
156:doi
102:or
200::
154:.
144:83
142:.
126:^
187:.
162:.
158::
150::
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.