2013-10-10

By: Johan Young

Hybrid cars are planning to use electric propulsion systems which prove to be very efficient and also environmentally friendly. There may be various methods and approaches to complete the movement that uses electrical energy, but the main idea is unchanged.

These systems are already working and will further help develop alternatives to the internal combustion engine.



hybrid electric car

What is Electric Propulsion?

Electric propulsion is the acceleration of gases in order to produce propulsive thrust through electric and magnetic body forces, electric body forces or electric heating. Electric propulsion system theory is normally considered to be part of rocket science where the propulsion system manages to generate enough energy to produce a strong thrust. An electric propulsion system is an alternative to a nuclear propulsion system. The total thrust is less powerful compared to a nuclear rocket but still enough to generate effects.

According to several studies, any engine used as a primary source of such dominant propulsion must generate exhaust velocities of around 10 to 20 km/s. There are also storable chemical orders used in rockets with an exhaust rate of around 5 km/s but in general is fewer not wasteful.

Propulsion systems that do not necessitate power through chemical responses are still required. There are electricity propulsion thrusters able to generate exhaust velocities around 10 to 20 km / s which step up payload and decrease the propellant mass. The consequences, however, are less powerful thrusters consuming bigger quantities of power.

The 3 Categories of Electric Propulsion

Electro thermal propulsion



Electric Propulsion Systems

Electro thermal propulsion strikes when the propellant is electrically heated after that isentropically expanded, producing a gas that is sent through a Convergent/Divergent (C/D) nozzle to generate thrust. Catalyzed hydrazine or an alternative neutral gas is used in thrusters similar to arc jets and resisto-jets.  An arc jet can be used to heat the propellants through an electric arc discharge. The arc in the arc-jet electron beam is generated from the cathode and the anode in the tip.  A constrictor is also present providing a narrow pathway between the two charges.

Electrostatic thrusters

Electrostatic thrusters also called ion thrusters. These use an ionized propellant accelerated through electric areas applied in a straight line like gridded ion thrusters and Hall thrusters. The method of propulsion is also recognized as ion propulsion method since ions are mainly used in the process. Electrostatic energy is used to produce propulsion.  With electrons from the atoms stripped off and converted to ions. The ions are accelerated by electric forces to a high temperature without needing thermal energy producing thrust. The atoms after losing electrons become positively charged.

Electromagnetic thrusters

Electromagnetic thrusters produce thrust using electric and magnetic forces that interact with charged plasmas like ions and electrons. An example of this is the magnetoplasmadynamic thruster or MPD. The system heats the propellant to a plasma state before being accelerated. A large current is passed by electromagnetic forces through gas in order to ionize the propellant. Plasma is the ionized propellant which is then accelerated by Lorentz force, an electromagnetic force producing thrust.

Effect on Gas

Decoupling engine speed and power output from the propeller will supply the opportunity to get better effectiveness.  Since electric forces and electromagnetic forces kick in for support, gas and diesel propulsion systems in vehicles will reduce the chances of wasting a huge part of power and energy.  The chance of engine overload is eliminated resulting in better fuel economy and better gas mileage.

A study conducted to check how much electric propulsion systems can help gasoline and diesel engines indicates that at least 10% fuel savings achieved only with the engine allows to move together with the burden inefficiency because of low load with high speed.  Larger propellers can also save as much as 7% of fuel compared to traditional models.

With the total load split between multiple generators, as much as 20% of fuel can be saved plus another 13% by matching the power produced by the engine to the power required by the propeller. A variable-speed generator will help accomplish this. Overall, 30% to 50% can be saved compared to a highly efficient diesel-electric or gasoline-electric system.

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