Do Ion drives have the potential to change the future of transportation or is the technology limited in it's applications?
46-50, M
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Mamapolo2016 · F
Xuan12 · 31-35, M
The amount of power it takes to use them is prohibitive. They're great for tiny thrusters in space used for adjustment, and maybe for tiny drone crafts, but it's difficult to imagine them powering large craft.
On the other hand, if you had new power tech, like lightweight portable fusion energy, which can produce TONS of power, these ion drives might become feasible for even larger craft.
Granted you'd still be able to operate a rotor powered craft much more efficiently in atmosphere with that energy, but you COULD use the ion drive then, if you really wanted to.
On the other hand, if you had new power tech, like lightweight portable fusion energy, which can produce TONS of power, these ion drives might become feasible for even larger craft.
Granted you'd still be able to operate a rotor powered craft much more efficiently in atmosphere with that energy, but you COULD use the ion drive then, if you really wanted to.
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TheSeptikSkeptik · 46-50, M
@Xuan12 Yeah, fission and fusion are two separate reactions.
Xuan12 · 31-35, M
@TheSeptikSkeptik No worries. We have been using fusion for a few decades, but only in bombs and experimental stellarators in labs as far as I know.
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TheOneyouwerewarnedabout · 41-45, MVIP
Is this a Star Trek thing?
Xuan12 · 31-35, M
@TheOneyouwerewarnedabout Naw, these are real, just not as seen on TV. Some guy recently made a small super-light aircraft that was able to power itself a few hundred feet using ion propulsion. It might have gone further, but it ran into a wall. They're a lot better in space, but still.
TheOneyouwerewarnedabout · 41-45, MVIP
why stop there.. sounds like free energy.. 😳
Xuan12 · 31-35, M
@TheOneyouwerewarnedabout Eh? Quite the opposite. It takes tons of energy to make them work. They have to ionize a gas to use as propellant and jettison it out the back end at tremendous velocity.
It does have the advantage of having no moving parts, being very silent, and potentially zero-pollution, but it's hard to get enough electricity to run the things for most applications.
For reference, a modern ion engine produces about 250 millinewtons of thrust. A typical jetliner engine generates 22,000 regular newtons.
It does have the advantage of having no moving parts, being very silent, and potentially zero-pollution, but it's hard to get enough electricity to run the things for most applications.
For reference, a modern ion engine produces about 250 millinewtons of thrust. A typical jetliner engine generates 22,000 regular newtons.