BTW, the ~ 3.3 milligrams/second of Xenon expelled from
the Deep Space I ion engine (~ 2.5 amps @ 600 volts) to get 1.0 newtons
of thrust could be replaced using a 15 watt electric heating element embedded in
an insulator-nozzle (BeO or other) with water feeding from a tank (~22 gallons to replace the 82 Kg of Xenon) pressurized with propane held in an external 20 lb capacity camper/barbeque bottle.
Acceleration of the steam to the 30 kilometer/second Xenon ion velocity
can be done with about 75 volts @ 2.5 amps accelerating potential ( ~ 200 watts).
Feel free to challenge these calculations. :-)
>
> FWIW, Calculations show that this approach is twice as efficient as
> a Zenon propellent "Ion Space Drive" (~ 5 amps @ 600 volts) and
> 68% efficiency as a Bladeless Microturbine (4 inch dial rotor @ 96,000 RPM).
>
> http://iaus.com/turbine.htm
>
> Microturbines (essentially Turbochargers used on engines) are a big item
> for distributed power generation these days. Some go as high as 120,000 RPM.
>
> > A Solar Photovoltaic power supply to provide the ~ 2.7 Kw-Hr/Lb
> > electrolysis of water (~10.0 Megajoules/lb) to get the H, OH, O & H2O vapor mix to feed
> > to a rocket nozzle where it can exothermally recombine and exit
> > the nozzle at several kilometers/second? Arc Jet Boost in the nozzle?
>
> > Would this give a plus for the IAS "Bladeless Turbine"?
>
> > &nbs! p; http://iaus.com/turbine.htm
> FWIW, Calculations show that this approach is twice as efficient as
> a Zenon propellent "Ion Space Drive" (~ 5 amps @ 600 volts) and
> 68% efficiency as a Bladeless Microturbine (4 inch dial rotor @ 96,000 RPM).
>
> http://iaus.com/turbine.htm
>
> Microturbines (essentially Turbochargers used on engines) are a big item
> for distributed power generation these days. Some go as high as 120,000 RPM.
>
> > A Solar Photovoltaic power supply to provide the ~ 2.7 Kw-Hr/Lb
> > electrolysis of water (~10.0 Megajoules/lb) to get the H, OH, O & H2O vapor mix to feed
> > to a rocket nozzle where it can exothermally recombine and exit
> > the nozzle at several kilometers/second? Arc Jet Boost in the nozzle?
>
> > Would this give a plus for the IAS "Bladeless Turbine"?
>
> > &nbs! p; http://iaus.com/turbine.htm
>
>
> > There should be enough water on Mars for speeding up the return
> > of a Manned Mission.
>
Frederick
>
> > There should be enough water on Mars for speeding up the return
> > of a Manned Mission.
>
Frederick
