Science Daily May 5, 2020
Researchers in China propose a prototype design of a propulsion thruster that utilizes air plasma induced by microwave ionization. They used a microwave air plasma jet thruster using high-temperature and high-pressure plasma generated by a 2.45 GHz microwave ionization chamber for injected pressurized air. They measured the lifting force and jet pressure at various settings of microwave power and the air flow rate and demonstrated that, given the same power consumption, its propulsion pressure is comparable to that of conventional airplane jet engines using fossil fuels. A carbon-emission free thruster could potentially be used as a jet thruster in the atmosphere…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Schematic diagram of a prototype microwave air plasma jet thruster. Credit: AIP Advances 10, 055002 (2020)Â