Water Plasma Thruster (Equinoxe) - Proof of Concept (Part 1)

This prototype shows that thrust can be produced by plasma electrolysis - it burns water, so to speak.
The system has to be optimized to avoid "unburned" droplets. In this early prototype the water injection is triggered manually by short pumping bursts of an electric membrane pump. The next version will be designed to have an active burn control and the ability to operate with low voltage (high amps).
Hopefully the integration in nanosatellites will be possible.
Built by Paul Kocyla

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Thruster
• Plasma
• Rocket
• Electrolysis
• Space
• Propulsion
• Cubesat
• Nanosatellite
• Satellite
• Spaceship
• Nozzle
• pk-remote

[ewetoobblowsbigtime]

Howdy. I am not real familiar with this concept. What is going on exactly?

[900kmh]

@ewetoobblowsbigtime A drop of water with electrolyte is decomposed by a voltage over 300V and high current resulting in decomposing it to hydrogen and oxygen and igniting the gas mixture by a plasma spark at the same moment with the same electrode. I presented this concept on the Desktop-DeltaV workshop for safe satellite propulsion, you can download the document there: There is no pyrotechnics involved

[cowsrock94]

Im guessing you need a high voltage high amperage spark while spraying water between the electrodes to make this work.

[dougie350]

think of a light saber.star wars

[dougie350]

@crafter2u thats the answer

[BinleyClan]

I agree, wouldn't water in a vapor state "flow" better and "ignite" more easily?

[crafter2u]

Try making the combustion chamber longer and feed it with superheated steam

[chaoticknightxxx]

thats AWESOME!