An Upscaled Jet Propulsion Engine

[akahenaton]

I've got an idea about jet propulsion from ionic propulsion, which doesn't require chemical fuels. Only electricity and some metal plates. (this idea comes from the ionic breeze) I know that some people are trying to do this and I want to do it too.

basically it works like this:

1.air is ionized

2.air is accelerated through the metal plates(which are electrically charged)

3.air exits the engine and propells the engine forward.

 

the only problems that i have seen with this type of propulsion is that it doesnt produce much thrust. only about 2lbs thrust with and engine that has about 1.5 square meters of surface area for the air to become ionized and push on the engine.

 

(for more info. check http://www.ionicbreeze.com or go to http://www.sharperimage.com)

[insane_alien]

i have seen and built similar. i think thet also have a fancy name that i can't find just now

[calbiterol]

They're called "lifters" or "electrohydrodynamic thrusters" (IIRC) or "ionocraft."

 

Run a search for any and/or all of the above (the middle one is abbreviated EHD) on google and you'll come up with gazillions of sites. The issue is that they require very, very lightweight craft and/or immense amounts of electrical energy.

[insane_alien]

"electrohydrodynamic thrusters" thats the big fancy name i meant. i got a hexagon shaped one and a circle shaped one. they're dead hard to get balanced and use a hell of a lot of electricity