Pulsed plasma thruster and method of making

Abstract

A pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) and a method of making the pulsed plasma thruster are disclosed. The PPT includes no moving parts and is able to achieve a small size. The PPT is also designed to facilitate easy and rapid manufacture. The process for making the PPT uses known techniques for making printed circuit board devices. Another PPT also has no moving parts and uses a liquid fuel that is progressively advanced by capillary action.

1 . An array of PPT's comprising:
 a first PPT formed on a common substrate;   a second PPT formed on the common substrate; wherein   the first PPT is laterally spaced from the second PPT.   
   
   
       2 . The array according to  claim 1 , wherein the first PPT is angled with respect to the second PPT. 
   
   
       3 . The array according to  claim 1 , wherein another device is mounted on the common substrate. 
   
   
       4 . The array according to  claim 3 , wherein the device is an integrated circuit. 
   
   
       5 . The array according to  claim 3 , wherein the device is a surface mounted device. 
   
   
       6 . The array according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third PPT. 
   
   
       7 . The array according to  claim 1 , wherein the first PPT and the second PPT are associated with a second common substrate. 
   
   
       8 . The array according to  claim 7 , wherein the common substrate and the second common substrate are both printed circuit boards. 
   
   
       9 . The array according to  claim 1 , wherein the common substrate is a printed circuit board. 
   
   
       10 . An array of PPT's comprising:
 a first substrate having a lower surface, the lower surface including a first groove;   a second substrate having an upper surface with a second groove; and wherein   a thruster aperture is formed by the first groove and the second groove when the lower surface of the first substrate is joined with the upper surface of the second substrate.   
   
   
       11 . The array according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and second substrates are a printed circuit boards. 
   
   
       12 . The array according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and second substrates include integrated nozzles. 
   
   
       13 . The array according to  claim 10 , wherein a lower surface of the second substrate includes a third groove configured to form a portion of a second thruster aperture. 
   
   
       14 . A method of making a PPT comprising the steps of:
 forming a first groove and a first hole in a first substrate;   forming a second groove and a second hole in a second substrate;   associating a first conductive layer with the first substrate;   associating a second conductive layer with the second substrate;   associating a first fuel layer with the first substrate;   associating a second fuel layer with the second substrate;   associating an igniter device with the first fuel layer; and   assembling the first substrate and the second substrate together by confronting the first groove with the second groove and joining the first substrate with the second substrate.   
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first conductive layer is printed onto the first substrate. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first conductive layer is sprayed onto the first substrate. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first conductive layer is deposited onto the first substrate. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first conductive layer is a ribbon and is attached to the first substrate. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first fuel layer is sprayed onto the first substrate. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first fuel layer is deposited onto the first substrate. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first fuel layer is a ribbon and is attached to the first substrate. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first fuel layer is a ribbon and is attached to the first conductive layer. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the igniter device is a ribbon and is attached to the first fuel layer. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the igniter device is sprayed onto the first substrate. 
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the igniter device is deposited onto the first substrate. 
   
   
       26 . A PPT comprising:
 a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode being connected to a capacitor and a power supply;   at least one fluid passage disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;   the fluid passage configured to receive a fluid and having an outlet;   the outlet is sized so that the fluid forms a meniscus; and wherein   a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode vaporizes a portion of the fluid.   
   
   
       27 . The PPT according to  claim 26 , wherein a fluid pressure force of the liquid is less than a surface tension force of the liquid. 
   
   
       28 . The PPT according to  claim 26 , wherein the liquid fuel is an insulator. 
   
   
       29 . The PPT according to  claim 26 , wherein the liquid fuel is a conductor. 
   
   
       30 . The PPT according to  claim 26 , wherein insulation is disposed about the fluid passage. 
   
   
       31 . The PPT according to  claim 26 , wherein the outlet is disposed proximate to the first electrode. 
   
   
       32 . The PPT according to  claim 26 , wherein the outlet is disposed proximate to the first electrode. 
   
   
       33 . The PPT according to  claim 26 , wherein the fluid passage is sized so that the fluid is advanced in the fluid passage by capillary action. 
   
   
       34 . The PPT according to  claim 26 , wherein the fluid passage is made of a material that provides a non-wetting surface for the fluid. 
   
   
       35 . The PPT according to  claim 26 , wherein the fluid is water. 
   
   
       36 . The PPT according to  claim 26 , wherein the fluid is hydrazine. 
   
   
       37 . The PPT according to  claim 26 , wherein the fluid is ammonia. 
   
   
       38 . A PPT comprising:
 a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode both being connected to a capacitor and a power supply;   at least one fluid passage disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;   the fluid passage configured to receive a fluid and having an outlet;   the fluid passage sized so that the fluid in the fluid passage flows by capillary action; and wherein   a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode vaporizes a portion of the fluid.   
   
   
       39 . The PPT according to  claim 38 , wherein fluid in the fluid passage advances forward by capillary action to replace the portion of the fluid previously vaporized. 
   
   
       40 . The PPT according to  claim 39 , wherein the fluid in the fluid passage eventually forms a meniscus at the outlet. 
   
   
       41 . The PPT according to  claim 39 , wherein the overall shape of the PPT is rectangular. 
   
   
       42 . The PPT according to  claim 39 , wherein insulation is disposed proximate to the fluid passage. 
   
   
       43 . The PPT according to  claim 39 , wherein insulation is disposed between the fluid passage and the first electrode. 
   
   
       44 . The PPT according to  claim 39 , wherein insulation is disposed between the fluid passage and the second electrode. 
   
   
       45 . A PPT comprising:
 a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode both being connected to a capacitor and a power supply;   a plurality of fluid passages disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;   the fluid passages configured to receive a fluid and having an outlet;   the fluid passages sized so that the fluid in the fluid passages flows by capillary action; and wherein   a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode vaporizes a portion of the fluid.   
   
   
       46 . The PPT according to  claim 45 , wherein insulation is disposed between the fluid passages and the first electrode. 
   
   
       47 . The PPT according to  claim 45 , wherein insulation is disposed between the fluid passages. 
   
   
       48 . The PPT according to  claim 45 , wherein the fluid passages are spaced equidistant from each other. 
   
   
       49 . The PPT according to  claim 45 , wherein the fluid passages form a pattern and wherein the pattern is spaced equidistant from one of the electrodes. 
   
   
       50 . The PPT according to  claim 45 , wherein the fluid passages form a pattern and wherein the pattern is spaced equidistant from both electrodes.