面向深空任务的电磁桨推力器设计

Design of an electromagnetic propeller for deep space missions

为解决深空任务需要大量推进工质的问题,提出了一种电磁桨推力器的概念,以恒星际等离子体为工质,利用带电粒子在正交匀强电场和磁场中的电漂移效应,产生对航天器的推力。根据带电粒子的漂移速度,分非相对论和相对论两种情况,推导了电磁桨推力器的推力公式,分析了电磁桨推力器的设计约束条件,并针对星际航行和无拖曳控制任务,结合实际工程技术水平,设计了初步电磁桨推力器方案和试验验证方案。计算结果表明,使用上述电磁桨推力器方案的航天器无需携带任何工质,在星际航行中每年可以得到1 056m/s速度增量。

To solve the massive propellant problem for deep space missions,the concept of an electromagnetic propeller was proposed.The interstellar plasma was used as propellant,and the electric drift effect with orthogonal and uniform electric field and magnetic field was used to produce the thrust.Depending on the plasma drift velocity,the formula of the electromagnetic propeller was derived in the non-relativistic case and the relativistic case.The restriction of electromagnetic propeller design was analyzed.The electromagnetic propeller scheme and demonstration experiments were designed for deep space and drag-free control missions with practical engineering level.As the result of calculation,carrying no propellant,the electromagnetic propeller design could obtain 1 056 m/s speed increment per year on the interstellar travel.