What is ion Power?

An ion thruster, ion drive, or ion engine is a form of electric propulsion used for spacecraft propulsion. It creates thrust by accelerating ions using electricity. An ion thruster ionizes a neutral gas by extracting some electrons out of atoms, creating a cloud of positive ions.

What is Nafion used for?

Nafion has found use in fuel cells, electrochemical devices, chlor-alkali production, metal-ion recovery, water electrolysis, plating, surface treatment of metals, batteries, sensors, Donnan dialysis cells, drug release, gas drying or humidifaction, and superacid catalysis for the production of fine chemicals.

What is PEM technology?

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolysis is the electrolysis of water in a cell equipped with a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) that is responsible for the conduction of protons, separation of product gases, and electrical insulation of the electrodes.

How much does Nafion cost?

To begin with, the cost structure is as follows. The proton exchange membrane is vigorously being developed. While the Nafion (Du pont) has 100 microns thickness and $500/m2 today, the experts says it will be $50/m2 on the production scale 150 thousands of fuel cell cars annually.

How long do ion engines last?

The first ion thrusters did not last very long, but the ion thruster on Deep Space 1 exceeded expectations and was used more than 16,000 hours during a period of over 2 years. The ion thrusters being developed now are being designed to operate for 7 to 10 years.

Is an electric rocket possible?

An electric rocket with an external power source (transmissible through laser on the photovoltaic panels) has a theoretical possibility for interstellar flight. However, electric propulsion is not suitable for launches from the Earth’s surface, as it offers too little thrust.

How fast is ion propulsion?

How Fast Could An Ion Engine Go? These thrusters can propel a spacecraft to speeds of up to 90,000 meters per second (over 200,000 mph) in space. Space Shuttles, on the other hand, can reach speeds of around 18,000 mph. In order to achieve high top speeds, ion thrusters must have low thrust (or low acceleration).

Where are PEM fuel cells used?

powering automobiles
PEM fuel cells are the best candidates for powering automobiles. They can also be used for stationary power production. However, due to their low operating temperature, they cannot directly use hydrocarbon fuels, such as natural gas, liquefied natural gas, or ethanol.