DE102013217059B3 - Electric engine and method of operation - Google Patents

Abstract

Electric engine (1), comprising: - a separation chamber (4) to which a plasma (P) can be fed from a plasma source, - one in an acceleration direction (B) of the plasma (P) along an axis of symmetry (3) of the separation chamber (4 ) downstream recombination chamber (5) which is separated from the separation chamber (4) by a number of ion acceleration grids (6) that can be charged with voltage, - at least two electron acceleration channels (7) which are separated from the axis of symmetry (3) from the separation chamber (4 ) and are separated from the separating chamber (4) by means of suction grids (8) that can be charged with voltage, - each a deflecting unit (9) which is arranged in the electron acceleration channels (7) and can be charged with voltage and which separates from the separating chamber (4) for deflecting Electrons is formed as an electron beam (E) in the recombination chamber (5), with a number between the electron acceleration channels (7) and the recombination chamber (5) is arranged by accelerating grids (10) which can be charged with voltage.

Description

The invention relates to an electric engine, in particular for use in a vacuum or under low pressure conditions and a method for its operation.

In space, electric engines are known. Compared to conventional chemical rocket engines, they have a significantly lower thrust, but require only a small support mass, is obtained from the plasma, while rocket engines need a large amount of support material in the form of fuel and oxidant.

From the WO 2011/088335 A1 is known an electric drive machine with an ion drive.

The US 4,937,456 A discloses an ion engine for accelerating positively charged ions generated by the collision of free electrons with gas atoms. The ion engine comprises a cathode compartment and an ionization chamber. The outer surface of an emitter tube is coated with a dielectric material to protect the emitter tube from erosion by sputtering. A plurality of bar magnets are spaced apart in a circular array about the cathode chamber with a pole face of each of the magnets tangentially aligned with wall sections of the ionization chamber. The bar magnets thus define a fence wherein the magnetic field between adjacent bar magnets is used to expand the mean path length of an electron entering the ionization chamber, thereby improving the likelihood that it will strike an atom, thereby forming an ion. A grid plate includes an accelerating grid coated on its inner and outer surfaces with a dielectric coating. The inner dielectric coating takes up the potential of the plasma and thus acts as a screen grid, while the outer dielectric coating assumes the basically neutral potential of the plasma jet acting as a brake grid. The dielectric coatings on the accelerating grid protect them from erosion by sputtering and, together with the dielectric coating on the inner surface of the ionization chamber, provide thermal insulation, thereby improving the operating efficiency of the ion motor.

The US 2011/0232261 A1 discloses a plasma drive comprising the extraction of a stream of positive ions. The plasma drive comprises a single ionization stage; Means for injecting ionizable gas for the ionization stage; wherein the means comprise at least first means for injecting a first gas and second means for injecting a second electronegative gas; Means for generating an RF electric field to cause the gases to ionize in the ionization stage, the means producing a first zone, referred to as a hot zone, in the ionization stage. The first gas is distributed in the first hot zone and the second gas is distributed in a second zone which is less hot than the first zone. First means are provided for extracting a stream of negative ions and second means for extracting a stream of positive ions, both being connected to the ionization stage. The extraction of a stream of positive ions and the extraction of a stream of negative ions is carried out so that the engine is electrically neutral.

The WO 2012/042143 A1 discloses a method and apparatus for shaping a plasma jet. The quality of the electrical neutrality of the plasma jet is detected and the changing polarization potentials of the extraction and acceleration gratings are adjusted so that the plasma jet is at least approximately electrically neutral.

The US Pat. No. 6,724,160 B2 discloses an ion beam apparatus in the form of a gridless ion source with a hot wire cathode neutralizer in which the hot wire is heated with a current from the cathode neutralizer heater. The cathode neutralizer is connected to the negative terminal of the discharge supply of the gridless ion source. This connection is essentially isolated from the ground potential (the potential of the surrounding vacuum chamber, which is normally grounded), and its potential is measured relative to ground. The heating current to the cathode neutralizer is controlled by adjusting to keep this potential within a narrow operating range. This control can be done manually or automatically.

WO 2011/088335 A1 discloses an electric drive machine comprising an ion engine having an annular discharge chamber housing comprising an anode having a large surface area. The ion engine incorporates a flat annular ion optic with a small pitch-gap ratio. Optionally, a second electric drive machine may be arranged in a cylindrical space in an interior of the annulus.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved electric motor and an improved method for operating an electric motor.

The object is achieved by an electric engine with the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 7.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

• – eine Trennkammer, der ein Plasma aus einer Plasmaquelle zuführbar ist,
• – eine in einer Beschleunigungsrichtung des Plasmas entlang einer Symmetrieachse der Trennkammer nachgelagerte Rekombinationskammer, die durch eine Anzahl von mit Spannung beaufschlagbaren Ionenbeschleunigungsgittern von der Trennkammer getrennt ist,
• – mindestens zwei Elektronenbeschleunigungskanäle, die von der Symmetrieachse von der Trennkammer abzweigen und mittels jeweiliger mit Spannung beaufschlagbarer Ansauggitter von der Trennkammer getrennt sind,
• – jeweils eine in den Elektronenbeschleunigungskanälen angeordnete mit Spannung beaufschlagbare Umlenkeinheit, die zur Umlenkung von aus der Trennkammer separierten Elektronen als Elektronenstrahl in die Rekombinationskammer ausgebildet ist, wobei zwischen den Elektronenbeschleunigungskanälen und der Rekombinationskammer jeweils eine Anzahl von mit Spannung beaufschlagbaren Beschleunigungsgittern angeordnet ist.

An electric engine according to the invention comprises:

• A separation chamber to which a plasma can be supplied from a plasma source,
• A recombination chamber located downstream in an acceleration direction of the plasma along an axis of symmetry of the separation chamber, which is separated from the separation chamber by a number of voltage-charged ion acceleration gratings,
• At least two electron acceleration passages branching from the symmetry axis of the separation chamber and separated from the separation chamber by means of respective energizable intake gratings,
• - In each case one arranged in the electron acceleration channels with voltage deflecting unit, which is designed for deflecting separated from the separation chamber electrons as electron beam in the recombination, wherein between the electron acceleration channels and the recombination chamber in each case a number of voltage acted upon acceleration gratings is arranged.

The plasma is supplied to the electric engine, without previously deliberately removed electrons.

In contrast to known from the prior art electrostatic engines with separate neutralizer for generating electrons electron deposited in the inventive electric motor from the plasma are selectively supplied to the ion current for recombination and thus contribute to the thrust and control of the electric engine.

In one embodiment, a voltage-deflectable deflection unit is arranged in each case in the vicinity of the acceleration gratings in the recombination chamber.

If the deflection units are not activated, the electron beam occurs, for example, with an angle of greater than 10 ° determined by the geometry of the electric drive and the deflection units to the ion beam. The electrons and ions recombine at a certain distance, for example a few meters behind the electric engine or not at all.

If the deflection units are activated, for example by applying a negative voltage, the angle of the electron beams can be increased (for example less than 45 °) so that the electrons and ions already begin to recombine in the recombination chamber. Advantageously, the angle is controlled and / or regulated so that the recombination takes place at the exit of the recombination chamber in order to avoid damage to the recombination chamber by sputtering, that is to say elementary particle bombardment.

In one embodiment, a flange is provided for coupling a plasma source to the separation chamber.

In one embodiment, three or four electron acceleration channels are provided. By arranging at least two, for example three or four electron acceleration channels around the axis of symmetry and by a separate control of the electron acceleration channels and optionally the deflection units, the electrons can act differently on the ion beam in quantity and direction of flight. By applying different voltages to the intake grille of the individual electron acceleration channels, a different number of electrons can be extracted from the plasma in each case. Further, in each of the electron acceleration channels, the velocity of the exiting electron beams may be controlled via the voltages applied to the acceleration grid. The control of an angle of each electron beam, in which this impinges on the ion beam, can take place in each case via the deflection units. With these parameters, the ion beam can be deflected from its orientation parallel to the axis of symmetry and thus the thrust direction of the electric engine can be influenced without mechanical movement of components.

The separation chamber preferably has, in the direction of the axis of symmetry and orthogonal to the intake grids, an extension which is shorter than a recombination distance of the plasma. A recombination path is a path after which the ions of the plasma would recombine with the electrons without any further energy input.

In one embodiment, the ion acceleration gratings comprise a first ion acceleration lattice facing the separation chamber and a second ion acceleration lattice following in the acceleration direction, the first ion acceleration lattice having a negative voltage for aspirating ions from the separation chamber, the second ion acceleration lattice and the third ion acceleration lattice Ion acceleration grid by means of appropriate voltage assignment to Acceleration and / or decelerating the resulting ion beam are formed.

In one embodiment, the intake grille for sucking electrons from the separation chamber can be assigned a positive voltage, wherein the acceleration grids each comprise a first acceleration grating facing the electron acceleration channel and a second acceleration grating facing the recombination chamber, wherein the first acceleration grating and the second acceleration grating correspond to the voltage Accelerating and / or delaying the resulting electron beam are formed.

In one embodiment, a control unit is provided, by means of which the voltage assignment of the ion acceleration gratings, the intake grille, the deflection units, the acceleration gratings and optionally the deflection units can be controlled and / or regulated.

In one embodiment, an anti-recombination means may be provided to suppress the recombination of ions and electrons in the separation process in the separation chamber. The anti-recombination device has a plurality of first nozzles, which are arranged within the separation chamber in each case one of the electron acceleration channels in the acceleration direction of the plasma upstream with the respective electron acceleration channel with respect to the axis of symmetry angularly aligned. The first nozzles are each aligned so that out of them a gas in the direction of the flange, for example at an angle of approximately 45 ° to the axis of symmetry, can be flowed out. The anti-recombination device further comprises a plurality of second nozzles, which are disposed within the separation chamber upstream of the first nozzles in the acceleration direction of the plasma and angularly out of alignment with the electron acceleration channels. The second nozzles are each aligned such that a gas can flow out of them in the direction of the recombination chamber, for example at an angle of approximately 45 ° to the axis of symmetry.

Through the nozzles of the anti-recombination device, a gas is flowed into the separation chamber, which may be different from the gas used as a support mass for the plasma. Due to the pressure difference between the outside of the electric engine vacuum and the interior of the separation chamber, the gas is sucked through the ion acceleration in the direction of the recombination, ie in the direction of acceleration of the plasma. The velocity of the gas which has flowed out of the first nozzles is thereby reduced by their orientation partially counter to the direction of acceleration, and the velocity of the gas emitted from the second nozzles is partially increased in the direction of acceleration by their orientation. In this way, in the separation chamber first gas channels of slower gas, which must pass the electrons on the way from the plasma into the respective electron acceleration channel. The first gas channels are separated from each other by second gas channels formed by the gas from the second nozzles. The second gas channels serve as the first gas channels bounding wall. In this way, the electrons are directed from the plasma to the intake grate. In the gas of the first gas channels, the electrons experience a resistance compared to vacuum and are thus delayed, so that the recombination is suppressed.

In other embodiments, differently designed anti-recombination devices may be provided, for example, a simple injection of a gas into the separation chamber as a carrier for delaying the electrons with one or more nozzles of the same orientation, through which no gas channels of different speed are formed.

• – Zuführen eines Plasmas aus einer Plasmaquelle in die Trennkammer ohne vorheriges Abführen von Elektronen,
• – Extrahieren von Ionen aus dem Plasma in die Rekombinationskammer und Beschleunigung als Ionenstrahl durch Anlegen von Spannung an die Ionenbeschleunigungsgitter,
• – Extrahieren von Elektronen aus dem Plasma in mindestens einen der Elektronenbeschleunigungskanäle durch Anlegen von Spannung an das jeweilige Ansauggitter und Beschleunigung als Elektronenstrahl in die Rekombinationskammer durch Anlegen von Spannung an die Beschleunigungsgitter, derart, dass der Elektronenstrahl zur Rekombination in oder nach der Rekombinationskammer auf den Ionenstrahl trifft.

An inventive method for operating the electric engine comprises:

• Supplying a plasma from a plasma source into the separation chamber without prior removal of electrons,
• Extracting ions from the plasma into the recombination chamber and accelerating as an ion beam by applying voltage to the ion acceleration gratings,
• - Extracting electrons from the plasma in at least one of the electron acceleration channels by applying voltage to the respective intake grille and acceleration as electron beam in the recombination by applying voltage to the accelerating gratings, such that the electron beam for recombination in or after the recombination on the ion beam meets.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

Show:

1 a schematic side view of an electric engine for accelerating an ionized gas, comprising a separation chamber and a recombination chamber,

2 a schematic representation of an ion acceleration grid between the separation chamber and the recombination chamber, and

3 a schematic representation of an electron acceleration channel.

Corresponding parts are provided in all figures with the same reference numerals.

1 shows a schematic side view of an electric engine 1 for accelerating an ionized gas in vacuum or under low pressure conditions.

The electric engine 1 includes a flange 2 for connection to a plasma source (not shown) from the electric engine 1 a plasma P can be supplied. The plasma P is obtained from a gas, for example oxygen, nitrogen, noble gases, for example helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon. Likewise, plasma extraction from solid or liquid supports, for example cesium, mercury, bismuth, etc is possible. In the plasma P, the support mass is gaseous and at least partially ionized. The plasma P becomes the electric engine 1 supplied, without previously deliberately removed electrons. In an acceleration direction B of the plasma P is the flange 2 along an axis of symmetry 3 of the electric engine 1 downstream of a separation chamber 4 arranged. The separation chamber 4 points in the direction of the axis of symmetry 3 and orthogonal to intake grids 8th an extent which is preferably shorter than a recombination distance of the plasma P used. A recombination path is a path after which the ions of the plasma P would recombine with the electrons without further energy input. In the direction of acceleration B of the plasma P follows the separation chamber 4 a recombination chamber 5 caused by a number of ion acceleration gratings 6 from the separation chamber 4 is disconnected.

A number of at least two electron acceleration channels 7 branches across the axis of symmetry 3 , For example, at an angle of 45 ° to 90 °, preferably 65 ° to 85 °, more preferably 75 ° to 78 °, from the separation chamber 4 from. The electron acceleration channels 7 are by means of respective intake grille 8th from the separation chamber 4 separated. In the electron acceleration channels 7 is in each case a deflection unit 9 arranged out of the separation chamber 4 separated electrons as electron beam E at a shallow angle, for example greater than 10 ° to the axis of symmetry 3 into the recombination chamber 5 deflects. Between the electron acceleration channels 7 and the recombination chamber 5 Each is a number of acceleration grids 10 arranged. Near the accelerator grid 10 are in the recombination chamber 5 each deflection units 11 arranged.

In a method for operating the electric engine 1 a plasma P is generated in any plasma source and through the flange 2 in the separation chamber 4 guided, without previously be removed electrons. By means of a suitable voltage assignment at the ion acceleration gratings 6 the ions from the plasma P become the recombination chamber 5 extracted and as an ion beam I parallel to the axis of symmetry 3 accelerated. An in 2 shown first, the separation chamber 4 facing ion acceleration grid 6.1 is occupied with a negative voltage U ₀ . Another two of the ion acceleration gratings 6.2 . 6.3 Due to their variable voltage assignment, they act as a thrust control to delay or accelerate the ions. In this way, a maximum speed of the electric engine 1 be set.

In parallel, electrons from the plasma P in the proportion corresponding to the removed ions by means of suitable voltage occupancy of the intake grille 8th into the electron acceleration channels 7 extracted. The electrons are initially occupied by a positive voltage, the separation chamber 4 facing front intake grille 8th dressed. By suitable voltage assignment of the deflection units 9 become the electron as electron beam E to the acceleration gratings 10 diverted. By appropriate voltage assignment of the acceleration grid 10 the exit velocity of the electron beam E is controlled. By the angle of the acceleration grid 10 to the axis of symmetry 3 the exit direction of the electron beam E is in the recombination chamber 5 certainly. To the angle after the exit of the electron beam E from the acceleration grid 10 to further influence corresponding voltages to the deflection units 11 created. By the arrangement of at least two, for example three or four electron acceleration channels 7 around the axis of symmetry 3 within the recombination chamber 5 and by a separate control of the electron acceleration channels 7 and the distraction units 11 The electron beams E can vary in quantity and direction on the ion beam I Act. By applying different voltages to the intake grille 8th the individual electron acceleration channels 7 In each case a different number of electrons can be extracted from the plasma P. Next, in each of the electron acceleration channels 7 the speed of the exiting electron beams E on the acceleration grid 10 applied voltages are controlled. The control of one angle each Electron beam E, in which this on the ion beam I can hit, in each case via the deflection units 11 respectively. The diverters 9 and deflectors 11 can be designed as baffles or magnetic field generator, such as magnetic coils, which deflect with the Lorenz force. With these parameters, the ion beam I from its orientation parallel to the axis of symmetry 3 deflected and thus the thrust direction of the electric engine 1 be influenced without mechanical movement of components.

Be the distraction units 11 not activated, the electron beam E, for example, with the above-mentioned angle of greater than 10 ° on the ion beam I on. The electrons and ions recombine at a distance, for example a few meters behind the electric engine 1 or not at all.

Be the distraction units 11 activated, for example by applying a negative voltage, the angle of the electron beams E can be increased (for example, less than 45 °) that the electron beam E already in the recombination for recombination and / or deflection on the ion beam I meets. Advantageously, the angle is controlled and / or regulated so that the recombination at the exit of the recombination chamber 5 takes place to damage the recombination chamber 5 by sputtering, ie elementary particle bombardment.

The amount of ions and electrons removed from the separation chamber is preferably controlled so that in or behind the recombination chamber 5 no excess of ions or electrons is created, to a static charge of the electric engine 1 to avoid.

The voltage assignment of the ion acceleration gratings 6 , the intake grille 8th , the diverting units 9 , the accelerator grid 10 and the distraction units 11 can be done by a control unit (not shown), which performs the described method.

Optionally, an in 1 shown anti-recombination device provided to the recombination of ions and electrons in the separation process in the separation chamber 4 to suppress. The anti-recombination device has a plurality of first nozzles 12 on that inside the separation chamber 4 each one of the electron acceleration channels 7 in the acceleration direction B of the plasma P upstream with the respective electron acceleration channel 7 with respect to the axis of symmetry 3 angularly arranged in a flight. The first nozzles 12 are each aligned so that from them a gas G in the direction of the flange 2 , For example, at an angle of about 45 ° to the axis of symmetry 3 , can be flowed out. The anti-recombination device further includes a plurality of second nozzles 13 on that inside the separation chamber 4 the first nozzles 12 in the acceleration direction B of the plasma P upstream and angularly out of alignment with the electron acceleration channels 7 are arranged. The second nozzles 13 are each aligned so that from them a gas G in the direction of the recombination 5 , For example, at an angle of about 45 ° to the axis of symmetry 3 , can be flowed out.

Through the first and second nozzles 12 . 13 the anti-recombination device is a gas G in the separation chamber 4 has flowed, which may be different from the gas G used as a support mass for the plasma P. Due to the pressure difference between the outside of the electric engine 1 located vacuum and the interior of the separation chamber 4 the gas G is passed through the ion acceleration lattice 6 in the direction of the recombination chamber 5 , So in the direction of acceleration B of the plasma P, sucked. The speed of the first nozzles 12 Exhausted gas G is thereby reduced by their orientation partially opposite to the direction of acceleration B and the speed of the second nozzle 13 emitted gas G by the orientation partially increased in the direction of acceleration B. In this way arise in the separation chamber 4 first gas channels of slower gas, the electrons on the way from the plasma P in the respective electron acceleration channel 7 have to happen. The first gas channels are separated from one another by second gas channels, which are separated from the second nozzles 13 emitted gas G are formed. The second gas channels serve as the first gas channels bounding wall. In this way, the electrons from the plasma P to the intake grille 8th directed. In the gas G of the first gas channels, the electrons experience a resistance compared to vacuum and are thus delayed, that is, they are located in a carrier, so that the recombination is suppressed.

The plasma P used can be any partially or completely ionized plasma P.

In an exemplary embodiment, the plasma P is generated by excitation of the support mass by microwaves. For example, argon is used as the support mass. The support mass is at least partially ionized in the plasma source, for example to about 48%.

The electric engine 1 For example, in a vacuum, for example in a vacuum geostationary orbit or a greater or lesser earth's distance.

2 shows a schematic representation of the ion acceleration grid 6 between separation chamber 4 and recombination chamber 5 , In an exemplary embodiment, the electric engine becomes 1 operated with the following parameters:
At the first ion acceleration grid 6.1 is a voltage U ₀ on. At the second ion acceleration grid 6.2 is a voltage U ₁ on.

The first ion acceleration grid 6.1 and the second ion acceleration grid 6.2 are arranged at a distance d ₀ from each other. The second ion acceleration grid 6.2 and the third ion acceleration grid 6.3 are arranged at a distance d ₁ from each other.

The ions are released from the separation chamber 4 through the first ion acceleration grid 6.1 dressed. The ions are thereby accelerated and consequently reach upon reaching the second ion acceleration lattice 6.2 a velocity v ₀ . By varying the voltage U ₁ on the second ion acceleration grid 6.2 is the braking deceleration force F _Br and thus the resulting force F _R and the deceleration a ₁ and the associated end speed v ₁ on the third ion acceleration grid 6.3 affected. The terminal velocity and the delay are variable, so that a targeted recombination can be initiated. The final velocity v _{1 is} determined by:

The thrust control voltage U ₁ should be lower than the voltage U ₀ . Otherwise it slows down more than accelerates. The ions would reverse in this case and the ion acceleration lattices 6 damage from behind.

F_Br = m_i·a₁ The brake deceleration a ₁ and the brake deceleration force F _Br between the second ion acceleration grid 6.2 and the third ion acceleration grid 6.3 are calculated as follows:

F _Br = m _i · a ₁

F_Be = m_i·a₀ The acceleration a ₀ and the accelerating force F _Be between the first ion acceleration grid 6.1 and the second ion acceleration grid 6.2 are calculated as follows:

F _Be = m _i · a ₀

The accelerating force F _Be is greater than the braking deceleration force F _Br . The resulting force F _R for each particle is given by: F _R = F _Be - F _Br .

3 shows a schematic representation of one of the electron acceleration channels 7 , At the intake grille 8th is a positive voltage U _0e . The intake grille 8th has a first accelerator grid 10.1 along a through the deflection 9 influenced trajectory of the electron a distance d _0e. The first acceleration grid 10.1 is at a distance d _1e from a second acceleration grid 10.2 arranged.

F_Bee = m_e·a_0e The acceleration a _0e and the accelerating force F _{Bee are} calculated according to:

F _Bee = m _e · a _0e

The speed of the electron after the thrust control by the voltage occupancy at the first accelerator grid 10.1 and at the second acceleration grid 10.2 is determined analogously to the calculations for the ions set out above.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

electric engine

2

flange

3

axis of symmetry

4

separation chamber

5

recombination chamber

6

Ion accelerating grid

6.1

first ion acceleration grid

6.2

second ionic acceleration grid

6.3

third ionic acceleration grid

7

Electron acceleration channel

8th

intake grille

9

Return unit

10

accelerating grid

10.1

first acceleration grid

10.2

second acceleration grid

11

Deflector

12

first nozzle

13

second nozzle

a ₀

acceleration

a _0e

acceleration

a ₁

deceleration

a _1e

deceleration

d ₀

distance

d _0e

distance

d ₁

distance

d _1e

distance

e

elementary charge

e

electron beam

F _Be

accelerating force

F _Bee

accelerating force

F _Br

Deceleration force

F _R

resulting power

G

gas

I

ion beam

m _e

electron mass

m _i

ion mass

P

plasma

q _i

Charge of the ion

B

acceleration direction

U ₀

tension

U _0e

tension

U ₁

tension

U _1e

tension

v ₀

speed

_ve

speed

v ₁

Top speed

v _1e

speed

Claims (7)

Electric engine ( 1 ), comprising: - a separation chamber ( 4 ), to which a plasma (P) can be supplied from a plasma source, - one in an acceleration direction (B) of the plasma (P) along an axis of symmetry ( 3 ) of the separation chamber ( 4 ) downstream recombination chamber ( 5 ) by a number of energizable ion acceleration gratings ( 6 ) from the separation chamber ( 4 ), - at least two electron acceleration channels ( 7 ) extending from the axis of symmetry ( 3 ) from the separation chamber ( 4 ) branch off and by means of respective voltage-loaded intake grille ( 8th ) from the separation chamber ( 4 ), - in each case one in the electron acceleration channels ( 7 ) arranged with voltage deflectable deflection unit ( 9 ), for the deflection of from the separation chamber ( 4 ) separated electrons as electron beam (E) in the recombination chamber ( 5 ), wherein between the electron acceleration channels ( 7 ) and the recombination chamber ( 5 ) each have a number of voltage gated acceleration gratings ( 10 ) is arranged. Electric engine ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that a flange ( 2 ) for coupling a plasma source to the separation chamber ( 4 ) is provided. Electric engine ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that three or four electron acceleration channels ( 7 ) are provided. Electric engine ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ion acceleration gratings ( 6 ) one of the separation chamber ( 4 ) facing first ionic acceleration grid ( 6.1 ) and in the direction of acceleration (B) following a second ion acceleration grid ( 6.2 ) and a third ionic acceleration lattice ( 6.3 ), wherein the first ion acceleration grid ( 6.1 ) for aspirating ions from the separation chamber ( 4 ) is assignable with a negative voltage, wherein the second ion acceleration grid ( 6.2 ) and the third ion acceleration lattice ( 6.3 ) by means of voltage assignment for accelerating and / or delaying the resulting ion beam ( I ) are formed. Electric engine ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intake grids ( 8th ) for sucking electrons from the separation chamber ( 4 ) are assignable with a positive voltage, wherein the acceleration grid ( 10 ) one each the electron acceleration channel ( 7 ) facing first acceleration grid ( 10.1 ) and one of the recombination chamber ( 5 ) facing second acceleration grid ( 10.2 ), wherein the first acceleration grid ( 10.1 ) and the second acceleration grid ( 10.2 ) are formed by means of voltage assignment for accelerating and / or delaying the resulting electron beam (E). Electric engine ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control unit is provided, by means of which the voltage assignment of the ion acceleration gratings ( 6 ), the intake grille ( 8th ), the diverters ( 9 ), the acceleration grid ( 10 ) and optionally the deflection units ( 11 ) is controllable and / or controllable. Method of operating the electric engine ( 1 ), comprising: - a separation chamber ( 4 ), One in an acceleration direction (B) of the plasma (P) along an axis of symmetry ( 3 ) of the separation chamber ( 4 ) downstream recombination chamber ( 5 ) by a number of ion acceleration gratings ( 6 ) from the separation chamber ( 4 ), - at least two electron acceleration channels ( 7 ) extending from the axis of symmetry ( 3 ) from the separation chamber ( 4 ) branch off and by means of a respective intake grille ( 8th ) from the separation chamber ( 4 ) are separated A number of between the electron acceleration channel ( 7 ) and the recombination chamber ( 5 ) arranged acceleration gratings ( 10 ), the method comprising: - supplying a plasma (P) from a plasma source into the separation chamber ( 4 ) without previous removal of electrons, - extraction of ions from the plasma (P) into the recombination chamber ( 5 ) and acceleration as an ion beam ( I ) by applying voltage to the ion acceleration gratings ( 6 ), - extracting electrons from the plasma (P) into at least one of the electron acceleration channels ( 5 ) by applying voltage to the respective intake grille ( 8th ) and acceleration as electron beam (E) into the recombination chamber ( 5 ) by applying voltage to the accelerator grid ( 10 ), such that the electron beam (E) for recombination and / or deflection in or after the recombination chamber ( 5 ) on the ion beam ( I ) meets.

Images