IX-6315 "Dawn" Electric Propulsion System
PB-Ion Electric Propulsion System/Box
The PB-Ion Electric Propulsion System is a tiny-sized engine which runs on electricity and xenon gas propellant. It's modeled after the real-world Hall effect thruster.
Usage
This engine has a phenomenal fuel efficiency (4200 s Isp), but very low thrust and requires an immense amount of electricity to operate. Xenon gas is provided by PB-X150 Xenon Containers. Electricity can be obtained using Solar Panels and Radioisotope Batteries. The amount of electricity needed to keep one ion engine running at full thrust is roughly equivalent to the output of one Gigantor XL Solar Array or 20 PB-NUK Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators.
Batteries can be used to store the electricity since there may be times your Solar Panels will be blocked from the Sun by objects or the dark side of Celestial Bodies.
The Ion Engine is good for fine tuning of orbits. It is also a popular propulsion method for planes on planets on which jet engines don't work. Due to its great fuel efficiency it is also well-suited for interplanetary travel, but be warned that maneuvers take a long time to complete due to its low thrust-to-weight ratio - it is advised that you only use it for very small craft, and use physics-warp while propelling with it.
Ion-powered "ferries" may also be useful for moving fuel, oxidizer and/or kerbonauts between two larger vessels, by keeping the large crafts at such range that only one of them is within draw distance from the "ferry" at any moment, performance loss can be avoided.
It is also generally more fuel-efficient to move fuel and oxidizer between two ships using a ferry than it would be to dock the larger crafts together using their own engines and RCS.
Electrical consumption
The game lists the electrical consumption as 12 E which is the electricity consumed for 0.1 xenon. To propel 1 xenon a electricity of 120 E is required. With the thrust and specific impulse the calculated fuel flow is 0.0121 kg/s or 0.1214 xenon/s which is more than the listed 0.1 xenon/second. So the electricity consumption is a bit higher at 14.562 E/s.[1] As the Isp given in seconds needs to be multiplied with a slightly higher acceleration than g0 (= 9.81 m/s²) the actual Isp in m/s is higher and therefore the xenon and electrical consumption is lower.[2]
Description
| “ | By emitting ionized xenon gas through a small thruster port, the PB-ION can produce incredibly efficient propulsion, but with a downside of very low thrust and high expense. The general perception of this engine as being powered by "witchcraft" has unfortunately given it a sour reputation. — Ionic Protonic Electronics |
” |
Gallery
- Screenshot59.png
A Solar Glider Ready for take-off. This ships uses ion engines.
- Screenshot51.png
The Solar glider in action.
Changes
- Initial Release
References
- ↑ Answer in the forum to Ion Engine consumes more energy than it should.
- ↑ In File:10X_Xenon.png 10 PB-Ion engines are running at full power and consuming a lower value that 10× the theoretical value.
