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EHD Thruster Cars
Not Magic
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Electro-HydroDynamic thrusters are elctricals devices working with Coloumb's Law of Electrostatics Acting on Ions and Conservation of momentum. In all EHD devices, there are two main parts; the ion emitter and the collector. The ion emitter is usually a string of wire with a high voltage positive charge, and the collector, located somewhere beneath the ion emmiter which is usually a rounded aluminum plate or mesh with a negative charge. When activated, the ion emiter gives all the surrounding air ions a negative charge. All of these negative ions are attracted toward the positively charged collector. Because the collector is rounded or a mesh, the ions slide past and push against the ground. Requires ~30kv for a small EHD thruster. If four of these thrusters were positioned at the outer points of a lightweight car-like vehicle, there is achance the thing will "levitate." There was once a full sized thruster called the Ionocraft, but I'm not sure about it, so don't take my word on it. The somewhat unreliable accounts of it say that Major De Sebervsky got it to lift him off the ground without moving parts. Inspiring; but is it true?

*sorry for spelling errors.


jellydoughnut, Oct 11 2005

Blaze Labs ion propulsion/EHD http://www.blazelabs.com/l-intro.asp
Provides a better descriptions and diagrams of ion propulsion. [jellydoughnut, Oct 11 2005]

A tested electrical propulsion system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_1
Acceleration? 0-60mph in just over one-and-a-half days.
[coprocephalous, Oct 12 2005]



Annotation:







       //*sorry for spelling errors.// Why don't you edit them out, rather than apologise for them?   

       I don't understand where the thrust comes from. Would you mind going over that bit once more?

zen_tom, Oct 11 2005
  

       Zen tom- I don't edit because I choose not to. Also, I meant to put a link in there for a web page for a company that appeared to have speacialized in this area. The name of the company is Blaze Labs, and I will later post their address, which explains it more thouroughly.

jellydoughnut, Oct 11 2005
  

       / I don't edit because I choose not to./ Editing shows respect for your readers. It shows that you hope they will take you seriously and give your ideas consideration. That seems to be your intent, with a posting like this, with your background description and invitation for discussion. Why not put forth a finished idea worthy of the discussion you hope it will provoke?   

       This is fascinating stuff and thank you for the link. But it looks like these folks beat you to it. Is your application new?

bungston, Oct 11 2005
  

       ////*sorry for spelling errors.// Why don't you edit them out, rather than apologise for them?//   

       *Pedant* apologiZe.

DesertFox, Oct 11 2005
  

       You're right about that editing issue, and now I feel bad. Ion propulsion is not my invention, but over the last summer, I did extensive research on the topic and found no such ideas much like mine at all. The only record that I've seen of an ionocraft lifting a human was De Sebervsky's and his used a single, large collecting grid over the cockpit. Also as opposed to other forms of ion-related hovering (as in Hoverboard Joe's ion-powered hoverboard which functions on a different concept), as far as I know, the only limit to how high the ionocraft can lift is the layers of the atmosphere where the air gets to thin for the EHD thrusters to function.

jellydoughnut, Oct 11 2005
  

       Apologise / apologize, both acceptable [DesertFox].

cromagnon, Oct 11 2005
  

       Apologize is unacceptable in many (non-US) parts of the English spelling world.   

       Can you elaborate on your actual invention please?

Texticle, Oct 12 2005
  

       I don't see how this device is different to a tested spacecraft propulsion method, which whilst being very efficient with large specific impulses, produce thrusts of milliNewtons. You're still going to need huge amounts of electrical energy to be able to shift enough air to levitate a car or a human - where does the electrical energy come from?

* Not sorry for boning this non-invention.

coprocephalous, Oct 12 2005
  

       The ionocraft itself, although about the same size of a compact car, would be very lightweight and more aerodynamic than one. It would have four thrusters, each the size of a trash can lid; one at the front, one at the rear, and two on the sides. The thrusters on the sides would have to protrude about a foot out from the body of the vehicle, so it wouldn't capsize, but protected by some kind of bumper, so they wouldn't break of, if hit. The most pressing problem with this car would be how it would get its' energy. De Sebervsy's single-thruster ionocraft was either charged or had a generator onboard. It was also said that when it came near the ground, it gave off bolts of static discharge the size of lightning strikes, so I'm figuring a car battery wouldn't cut it.

jellydoughnut, Oct 13 2005
  

       These EHD Thrusters have a serious issue with thrust to weight ratio.   

       Make one for yourself an see how light the thing must be in order to fly   

       You can see how to make one (and the HV PSU) on my website.   

       I think the most effective use might be to simply reduce drag on vehicles so they can go faster

rmcybernetics, Mar 22 2006
  


 
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