Get Helpful Tips About Electric Propulsion Systems

Filed under:Hybrid Cars

Johan Young
Fuel Efficient Cars and Structures of Hybrid Vehicles

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 still the same.

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

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 produce effects.

According to several studies, any engine used as a primary source of such powerful propulsion must produce exhaust velocities of around 10 to 20 km/s. There are also storable chemical systems used in rockets with an exhaust velocity of around 5 km/s but overall is less efficient.

Propulsion systems that do not require energy through chemical reactions are still needed. There are electricity propulsion thrusters able to produce exhaust velocities around 10 to 20 km / s which increase payload and reduce the propellant mass. The consequences, however, are less powerful thrusters consuming larger quantities of power.
The 3 Categories of Electric Propulsion

Electro thermal propulsion

Electro thermal propulsion occurs when the propellant is electrically heated then isentropically expanded, producing a gas that is sent through a Convergent/Divergent (C/D) nozzle to create thrust. Catalyzed hydrazine or another neutral gas is used in thrusters like 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 fields applied directly like gridded ion thrusters and Hall thrusters. The technique of propulsion is also known as ion propulsion technique 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 Fuel

Decoupling engine speed and power output from the propeller will provide the opportunity to improve efficiency. Since electric forces and electromagnetic forces kick in for support, gasoline and diesel propulsion systems in vehicles will decrease 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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