Helicon plasma electric propulsion device

• Main Authors: ZHOU NIANDONG, XUE WEIHUA, WU QIUYUN, HAO JIANKUN, WANG PENG, ZOU CUNZUO, XU ZONGQI, XIA GUANGQING, CHEN XIANGYAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.03.2015
• Subjects: BLASTING; HEATING; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PRODUCING A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER; WEAPONS; WIND, SPRING WEIGHT AND MISCELLANEOUS MOTORS

An embodiment of the invention provides a helicon plasma electric propulsion device. The device comprises a helicon plasma excitation antenna, a discharge cavity made of quartz glass, a first metal plate, a second metal plate, at least one iron ring, at least two permanent magnet rings and an air inlet. The iron rings and the permanent magnet rings are displaced in an alternating manner to form a cylindrical cavity. The two metal plates are arranged at the two ends of the cylindrical cavity respectively. The permanent magnet rings are connected with the first metal plate and the second metal plate. The discharge cavity is arranegd in the cylindrical cavity. The air inlet and a radio frequency input and output wire of the discharge cavity penetrate through the first metal plate. The bottom of the discharge cavity is fixedly connected with the second metal plate. The first metal plate is connected with the second metal plate through a bolt and a nut. According to embodiment of the invention, the service life of the helicon propulsion device is prolonged, the space occupancy of the propulsion device on a spacecraft platform is reduced and the integral working efficiency is improved.