초록 ▼

There is provided an anode for an electrothermal arcjet thruster. A conduit running through the anode body has a converging upstream portion and a diverging downstream portion connected by a constrictor portion having a greater diameter at the interface with the upstream portion than at the interfac

There is provided an anode for an electrothermal arcjet thruster. A conduit running through the anode body has a converging upstream portion and a diverging downstream portion connected by a constrictor portion having a greater diameter at the interface with the upstream portion than at the interface with the downstream portion. As the result, the cross-sectional area available to a propellant gas passing through the constrictor constantly decreases and the propellent gas velocity continually increases. This constrictor geometry allows the arcjet thruster to be operated at a lower mass flow rate increasing the obtainable specific energy.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [12.] An anode for an electrothermal arcjet thruster, comprising an electrically conductive body having a surface defining a conduit extending therethrough and including:an upstream portion of the conduit wherein said surface converges;a downstream portion of the conduit wherein said sur

[ I claim:] [12.] An anode for an electrothermal arcjet thruster, comprising an electrically conductive body having a surface defining a conduit extending therethrough and including:an upstream portion of the conduit wherein said surface converges;a downstream portion of the conduit wherein said surface diverges;a constrictor portion of the conduit having:an upstream end adjacent to said upstream portion and having an upstream cross-sectional area; andan opposite downstream end adjacent to said downstream portion and having a downstream cross-sectional area less than the upstream cross-sectional area, the constrictor portion having a longitudinal length extending between such upstream and downstream ends, along substantially said length the surface having a single substantially uniform slope having an angle of convergence less than an angle of convergence of the upstream portion.