Ionic Thrusters in Wing Design

Jul 19, 2024

Lecture Notes: Ionic Thrusters in Wing Design

Introduction

  • Dual-purpose design: Wing and ionic thruster.
  • Goal: Optimize ionic thruster for flight.
  • Transatlantic competition with Joel to improve thruster design.

Initial Design Attempts

  • BSI thruster led to competitive innovation with Joel.
  • Realization: Minimize weight and components for no-moving-part airplanes.
  • Collaboration with Peter Sripol, an expert in wing design.

Design Process

Conceptual Inspiration

  • Fighter jets are essentially jet engines with wings attached.
  • Idea to incorporate ionic thrust into a glider's frame for better experimentation.

Design Stages

  • Ultra-light wing design with built-in thrusters.
  • Multiple design iterations to optimize weight and power.

Prototype Development

Early Prototypes

  • 12cm section of wing with adjustable element spacing.
  • Initial tests showed poor performance: velocity around 0.4-0.6 m/s.

Design Refinement

  • Redesigned ionic thrust segments to avoid airflow obstruction.
  • Significant performance improvement: up to 1.5 m/s.

Further Optimizations

  • Aluminum streamlined tubing for ground connections: mild performance gain.
  • Assembled full wing prototype for further testing.

Performance Testing

Initial Tests and Adjustments

  • Evaluation of different power and spacing configurations.
  • Maximum velocity achieved: 4 m/s after reducing Eddy currents.
  • Visualized airflow using dry ice fog.

Weight Reduction

  • Iteratively reduced wing weight by redesigning airfoil and reducing material use.
  • Weight reductions achieved: from 200g to 100g (50% reduction).
  • Reduced weight led to significant airflow improvements.

Final Design and Demonstration

  • Wing glowing purple under high voltage: visually impressive.
  • Prototype achieved 60 RPM (2 m/s) on a balanced testing rig.
  • Final calculations determined thrust output to be 44 grams.

Future Directions

  • Plans to use higher current power sources for further improvements.
  • Consider using wire instead of razor blades to reduce weight further.
  • Potential for a solid-state airplane based on findings.

Conclusion

  • The project shows promise for developing a solid-state airplane.
  • Future optimizations and testing necessary to achieve flight-worthy performance.

Note: Video sponsored by Curiosity Stream.

Summary Quote

"Ask yourself: Is it possible we're on the precipice of a new era of flight – a solid-state airplane?"