Summary:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Physics and Astronomy have developed an improved electrospray propulsion device for satellites and other aerospace applications.
Background:
The application of electromagnetic principles for jet propulsion has been an ongoing area of research in aeronautical engineering. In particular, electric propulsion (EP) generally has higher efficiency, thrust density, and specific impulse compared to traditional chemical rockets. One important EP technology is electrospray propulsion, which electrostatically ionizes, accelerates, and ejects conductive liquids for thrust. However, conventional electrospray propulsion devices include needles or capillary tubes as emitters. Their standard 2-D array arrangement usually limits the emission site and may only be held at low voltages. Therefore, there is a need for electrospray propulsion devices with improved performance and efficiency. There is also a need for improved fabrication methods for electrospray emitters and propulsion devices.
Innovation:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Physics and Astronomy have developed an electrospray propulsion device with improved emitters. The fabrication method used by the inventors allows the spacing of the emitters to be precisely controlled. The emitters in the UCLA design provide more variability in emission sites, which are locally atomically sharp, and the emitter structure is more mechanically robust than conventional needles, which allows them to be held at higher voltage without breaking than is possible with traditional designs. These advantages create opportunities for the UCLA technology to be used as the primary propulsion source for small satellites.
Potential Applications:
- Primary satellite propulsion
- Satellite maneuvering
- Telecommunications
Advantages:
- Better electrospray emission
- Simple fabrication
- Higher voltage operation
- Flexible design fabrication
Development to Date:
First description of the complete invention