The 11th Institute of the Sixth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology has made a major breakthrough in the development of a 100-kilowatt magnetic plasma engine
Recently, a large-thrust magnetoplasma engine developed by the 11th Institute of the 6th Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation completed the first domestic full-system high-power reliable start-up and stable operation. The effective injection power of the engine system exceeded 100 kilowatts, achieving a major technological breakthrough.
The magnetoplasma engine, or magnetoplasma rocket engine, is an advanced plasma propulsion system. Its working principle is to generate plasma by ionizing the working fluid, and then use the electromagnetic field to accelerate the plasma to form a high-speed particle flow, that is, to form thrust. This new type of propulsion system has the advantages of high power density, high efficiency, and high specific impulse. It also has the characteristics of good safety, diverse working fluid selection, and strong adaptability. It can be used in the fields of interplanetary cargo transportation, interstellar navigation, and deep space exploration.
Due to technical difficulties such as high-power radio frequency power supply, high-efficiency energy coupling and transmission, the power of the currently popular magnetic plasma engine is in the order of tens of kilowatts. In order to achieve the stable operation of the 100-kilowatt magnetic plasma engine, the research team adopted new 3D printing materials and high-temperature superconducting magnet technology, breaking through key technologies such as high-power stable transmission, wide-range dynamic parameter adjustment, and reliable system thermal management. The successful ignition this time marks that the institute's magnetic plasma engine technology level has entered the forefront of the world, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent development of 100-kilowatt magnetic plasma engine propulsion systems.
