Electric propulsion is a form of spacecraft propulsion that uses electrical energy to accelerate propellant using electric and/or magnetic fields. There are several types of electric propulsion systems including electrostatic, electromagnetic, and electrothermal. Electric propulsion provides higher fuel efficiency than chemical rockets by expelling propellant at higher velocities, though it produces significantly lower thrust. While not suitable for launching from Earth, electric propulsion is well-suited for missions requiring small thrust over long durations, such as maintaining a spacecraft's orbit or powering interplanetary transfers.

1. ELECTRIC PROPULSION
PRESENTED BY
K. BALASRIRAM
13K81A0222
4TH YEAR
EEE DEPARTMENT

2. INTRODUCTION
• The success of a space mission is always linked to the performance of technology. To
have a technology ready when a satellite flies, research and development must start
years in advance.
• Electric propulsion is a good example of advance space technology.

3. PROPULSION SYSTEM
• A propulsion system is a machine that produces thrust to push an object forward. On
airplanes, thrust is usually generated through some application of Newton's third law
of action and reaction. A gas, or working fluid, is accelerated by the engine, and the
reaction to this acceleration produces a force on the engine.

4. ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEM
• Electric propulsion is a generic name encompassing all of the ways of accelerating a
propellant using electrical power.
• The simplest way to achieve electric propulsion is to replace the heat generated by
combustion In chemical engines with electrical heating.

5. ELECTRICALLY POWERED SPACECRAFT
PROPULSION
• An electrically powered spacecraft propulsion system uses electrical energy to
change the velocity of a spacecraft. Most of these kinds of spacecraft propulsion
systems work by electrically expelling propellant (reaction mass) at high speed, but
electrodynamic tethers work by interacting with a planet's magnetic field.
• Electric propulsion is now a mature and widely used technology on spacecraft.
Russian satellites have used electric propulsion for decades and it is predicted that by
2020, half of all new satellites will carry full electric propulsion.
• In the future, the most advanced electric thrusters may be able to impart a Delta-v of
100 km/s, which is enough to take a spacecraft to the outer planets of the Solar
System (with nuclear power), but is insufficient for interstellar travel.

6. CLASSIFICATION
ELECTRIC PROPULSION
ION AND PLASMA DRIVES
• ELECTROSTATIC
• ELECTRO THERMAL
• ELECTRO MAGNETIC
NON-ION DRIVES
• PHOTONIC
• ELECTRO DYNAMIC TETHER
• UN-CONVENTIONAL
STEADY VS UNSTEADY

7. Ion source
Accelerating
electrode
Neutralizer:
Electron
emitter
Electrons
Ions
Battery
Propellant line
Electrostatic: Ion Rocket in space

8. NASA's 2.3 kW NSTAR ion thruster for the Deep Space 1
spacecraft
during a hot fire test at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

9. 6KW HALL THRUSTER IN OPERATION AT NASA JET
PROPULSION LABORATORY

10. ION AND PLASMA DRIVES
• This type of rocket-like reaction engine uses electric energy to obtain thrust from propellant
carried with the vehicle. Unlike rocket engines, these kinds of engines do not necessarily have
rocket nozzles, and thus many types are not considered true rockets.
• Electric propulsion thrusters for spacecraft may be grouped in three families based on the type
of force used to accelerate the ions of the plasma.

11. • ELECTROSTATIC:
If the acceleration is caused mainly by the Coulomb force (i.e. application of a static
electric field in the direction of the acceleration) the device is considered electrostatic.
• ELECTRO THERMAL:
The electrothermal category groups the devices where electromagnetic fields are used
to generate a plasma to increase the temperature of the bulk propellant. The thermal
energy imparted to the propellant gas is then converted into kinetic energy by a nozzle
of either solid material or magnetic fields. Low molecular weight gases (e.g. hydrogen,
helium, ammonia) are preferred propellants for this kind of system.
• ELECTRO MAGNETIC:
If ions are accelerated either by the Lorentz force or by the effect of an electromagnetic
fields where the electric field is not in the direction of the acceleration, the device is
considered electromagnetic.

12. NON-ION DRIVES
• PHOTONIC:
Photonic drive does not expel matter for reaction thrust, only photons. See Laser propulsion, Photonic
Laser Thruster, Photon rocket.
• ELECTRODYNAMIC TETHER:
Electrodynamic tethers are long conducting wires, such as one deployed from a tether satellite, which
can operate on electromagnetic principles as generators, by converting their kinetic energy to electric
energy, or as motors, converting electric energy to kinetic energy.
• UN-CONVENTIONAL:
The principle of action of these theoretical devices is not well explained by the currently-
understood laws of physics.

13. STEADY VS UNSTEADY
• Electric propulsion systems can also be characterized as either steady (continuous
firing for a prescribed duration) or unsteady (pulsed firings accumulating to a desired
impulse). However, these classifications are not unique to electric propulsion systems
and can be applied to all types of propulsion engines.

14. ADVANTAGES
• Electric thrusters typically use much less propellant than chemical rockets because they have a
higher exhaust speed (operate at a higher specific impulse) than chemical rockets.
• Due to limited electric power the thrust is much weaker compared to chemical rockets, but
electric propulsion can provide a small thrust for a long time.
• Electric propulsion can achieve high speeds over long periods and thus can work better than
chemical rockets for some deep space missions.

15. DIS-ADVANTAGES
• However, electric propulsion is not a method suitable for launches from the Earth's
surface, as the thrust for such systems is too weak.
• Electrically powered rocket engines provide lower thrust compared to chemical
rockets by several orders of magnitude because of the limited electrical power
possible to provide in a spacecraft.
• A chemical rocket imparts energy to the combustion products directly, whereas an
electrical system requires several steps.

16. APPLICATIONS
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION(ISS)
INTERPLANETRY MISSIONS
COMMERICAL/DEFENCE

17. CONCLUSION
electric propulsion is not a method suitable for launches from the Earth's surface, as the thrust for
such systems is too weak. Electrically powered rocket engines provide lower thrust compared to
chemical rockets by several orders of magnitude because of the limited electrical power possible
to provide in a spacecraft. A chemical rocket imparts energy to the combustion products directly,
whereas an electrical system requires several steps.

18. FUTURE SCOPE
• electric propulsion is not a method suitable for launches from the Earth's surface, as the thrust
for such systems is too weak. SO THIS CAN
BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FUTURE.

19. REFERANCES
• http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia.hmtl
• http://www.mypptsearch.com/index.php
• http://www.2dix.com
• http://www.jetaerospace.org/

20. THANK YOU