NanoFET thrusters: solid state propulsion

[docm]

Imagine a solid state CMOS device that emits nanoparticle's of propellant; sort of an ion thruster without the high voltage, electrode arcing and grids that can short out from a misplaced dust mote. <br /><br />Now imagine millions or billions of them in a megawatt flat panel array used as a space craft propulsion module. <br /><br />It's called NanoFET: Nanoparticle Field Emission Thruster <br /><br /><b>Summary:</b><br /><br /> * It can electrostatically charge and accelerate nanoparticles as propellant<br /> * It could be tremendously flexible in controlling charge/mass (q/m) ratio to tune propulsion performance <br /> * It uses scalable array (thousands to many millions) of micron-sized emitters. It is possible to have millions of emitters per square cm.<br /><br /><b>Advantages offered by nanoFET:</b> <br /><br /> * Ability for broader set of missions and mission phases.<br /> * Ability to decoupling of propulsion system design from the design of spacecraft.<br /><br />Picture below.<br /><br />NanoFET PDF <br /><br />Article 1....<br /><br />Article 2....<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Article 1:<br /><br />Brian Gilchrist's design for a rocket ship sounds like a bad joke. For a start, its engine is about the size of a single bacterium. And for thrust it relies on the equivalent of chucking microscopic beer cans out of the spacecraft's rear window. Gilchrist, an electrical engineer at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, is not joking though. He proposes to harness the latest nanotechnology to create an engine that will make its way across the solar system by firing out minute metal particles like so much nano-sized grapeshot.<br /><br />Needless to say, it will take mor</p></blockquote> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[nexium]

Here is an excerpt from the link: NASA seems to believe Gilchrist could be onto something. It has supplied $500,000 funding for his project from its Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) in Atlanta, Georgia. If all goes to plan, his tiny engine could end up going a very long way indeed.<br /><br />Gilchrist's exotic idea has a simple motivation: is there a way to build spacecraft more cheaply? Much of the expense of any mission is the cost of getting the craft off the launch pad and into space. How much you pay depends on the craft's weight. "Every kilogram can cost tens of thousands of dollars," says Gilchrist. Neil

 

[rocketman5000]

hasn't NIAC been closed because of budget woo's? if so does he still get the money?

 

[docm]

NIAC is still up but may close by August if Congress doesn't get its act together, and right now getting them to accomplish anything useful would require the equivalent of hearding cats <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /><br /><br />Even if it does close they'll probably (HOPEFULLY!!) transfer the more promising projects elsewhere. IMO this one qualifies. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[owenander]

How does it compare to VASMIR and other new systems?

 

[gunsandrockets]

NanoFET thruster = world's smallest railgun?<br /><br /><br />"...they show a high efficiency range of over 90% ..."<br /><br />Hmmm...If I'm reading this right that is about 1.5x better than conventional electric thrusters.

 

[docm]

<font color="yellow">How does it compare to VASMIR and other new systems?</font><br /><br />Potentially: high thrust-to-power with an even wider range of SI's but far, far lighter and lacking many disadvantages of using high voltages. Fuel can be processed on board and it looks like the iron nanoparticles from lunar regolith or asteroids will do nicely. Also easily made modular. <br /><br />But all this is supposition absent live testing. <br /><br />The only downside I see is that I wouldn't want to fly through its wake; might be like an interplanetary sandstorm. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>