Ion vacuum drive - Revision history

Siddharth1: /* Design Variants */

2025-09-08T01:18:00Z

Design Variants

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:18, 8 September 2025
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	==Design Variants==		==Design Variants==
	===Bi-Directional Designs===		===Bi-Directional Designs===
	Because of their design, ion-vaccum engines can very easily be engineered to to work in either direction. Meaning, instead of needing one set of engines to accelerate, and a separate set to decelerate(or having to turn the entire ship around), the same engine can go both ways.		Because of their design, ion-vaccum engines can very easily be engineered to to work in either direction. Meaning, instead of needing one set of engines to accelerate, and a separate set to decelerate (or having to turn the entire ship around), the same engine can go both ways.

	*Magnetic Nozzle/Bussard Collector		*Magnetic Nozzle/Bussard Collector
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	*Pre-Compression Chamber/Magneto Accelerator		*Pre-Compression Chamber/Magneto Accelerator
	**In order to produce a frictionless surface, the pre-compression chamber is lined with magnetic constrictors. Additional components are required to allow it to function as a magnetodynamic accelerator. This also aids in engine ~~efficinecy~~, as materials flow faster into the compression chamber.		**In order to produce a frictionless surface, the pre-compression chamber is lined with magnetic constrictors. Additional components are required to allow it to function as a magnetodynamic accelerator. This also aids in engine efficiency, as materials flow faster into the compression chamber.

	*Compression, Combination, and Re-compression Chambers		*Compression, Combination, and Re-compression Chambers

CourseDirector at 03:41, 16 June 2020

2020-06-16T03:41:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:41, 16 June 2020
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	By the [[Ages#The Golden Age\|Golden Age]] it was the standard in starship engine. There are many different designs of Ion-vacuum drives, making the technology as diverse as the internal combustion engine. All operate around the same basic principles.		By the [[Ages#The Golden Age\|Golden Age]] it was the standard in starship engine. There are many different designs of Ion-vacuum drives, making the technology as diverse as the internal combustion engine. All operate around the same basic principles.

			Early drives were slow and had poor [[Acceleration Curve]]s. Whle always ubiquitous, the standard Ion-Vacuum arrangement was supplanted for a long while by the [[Starship Engine Systems#Deuterium Drive\|Deuterium Drive]].

	==Operating Principle==		==Operating Principle==

CourseDirector: /* Engine Stages */

2020-03-20T22:12:12Z

Engine Stages

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:12, 20 March 2020
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	*'''Bussard Collector'''		*'''Bussard Collector'''
	**The Bussard Collector is not actually part of the engine itself, but it a large megnetic and artificial gravity field use to sweep up matter in front of the ship. [[Bussard Ramjet]]s, commonly used on smaller spacecraft before the development of small-scale ion-vacuum drives, uses a similar technology.		**The [[Bussard Collector]] is not actually part of the engine itself, but it a large megnetic and artificial gravity field use to sweep up matter in front of the ship. [[Bussard Ramjet]]s, commonly used on smaller spacecraft before the development of small-scale ion-vacuum drives, uses a similar technology.

	*'''Pre-Compression Chamber'''		*'''Pre-Compression Chamber'''

CourseDirector: /* Engine Stages */

2020-03-20T21:37:45Z

Engine Stages

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:37, 20 March 2020
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	*'''Magnetic Nozzle'''		*'''Magnetic Nozzle'''
	**Actually a combination of electromagnets and force fields, the magnetic nozzle is where the plasma leaves the ship.		**Actually a combination of electromagnets and force fields, the magnetic nozzle is where the plasma leaves the ship.

	==Augments==		==Augments==

CourseDirector: /* Linear Drive */

2020-03-20T19:56:01Z

Linear Drive

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:56, 20 March 2020
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	===Linear Drive===		===Linear Drive===
	~~The linear drive.~~		{{#lsth:Starship Engine Systems\|Linear Drive}}

	==Notable Examples of Ion-Vacuum Technology==		==Notable Examples of Ion-Vacuum Technology==

CourseDirector at 22:38, 26 December 2018

2018-12-26T22:38:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:38, 26 December 2018
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	*[[A.S. Sundew]] was a privately-owned freighter that gained wide attention when it was found that the ship's ion-vacuum drive had been in continuous operation for one hundred and six years. To quote the captain: "Grand-Pappy said if he ever turned off the engine, he'd never get it started again... so he never did. If it worked then, it otta' work now.".		*[[A.S. Sundew]] was a privately-owned freighter that gained wide attention when it was found that the ship's ion-vacuum drive had been in continuous operation for one hundred and six years. To quote the captain: "Grand-Pappy said if he ever turned off the engine, he'd never get it started again... so he never did. If it worked then, it otta' work now.".

			[[Category:Course Books]]

CourseDirector: /* Design Variants */

2018-02-06T23:22:24Z

Design Variants

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:22, 6 February 2018
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	Speed is still limited to 70 PSL, but the [[Acceleration curve]] is much higher, and the ship is capable of producing very high delta-V.		Speed is still limited to 70 PSL, but the [[Acceleration curve]] is much higher, and the ship is capable of producing very high delta-V.

	===Plasma Duct===		====Plasma Duct====
	Not a design ~~variatiant~~ by itself, but in very high-performance versions the plasma flow can sometimes be split into a series of ducts. This is used chiefly when the intake and outlet are not in a direct line. Ducting is used additionally by wrapping the ducts hellically along the path of travel, which increases the effective length of the engine. This is done along the Magneto Accelerator to provide additional area to add acceleration. Further, the space in between the ducts can be used to fit a gravity field generator employing a spinning field design, which adds extra force to the plasma at a cost of greater electrical requirements.		Not a design variant by itself, but in very high-performance versions the plasma flow can sometimes be split into a series of ducts. This is used chiefly when the intake and outlet are not in a direct line. Ducting is used additionally by wrapping the ducts hellically along the path of travel, which increases the effective length of the engine. This is done along the Magneto Accelerator to provide additional area to add acceleration. Further, the space in between the ducts can be used to fit a gravity field generator employing a spinning field design, which adds extra force to the plasma at a cost of greater electrical requirements.

			===Linear Drive===
			The linear drive.

	==Notable Examples of Ion-Vacuum Technology==		==Notable Examples of Ion-Vacuum Technology==

CourseDirector: /* Design Variants */

2018-02-06T00:08:32Z

Design Variants

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:08, 6 February 2018
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	Speed is still limited to 70 PSL, but the [[Acceleration curve]] is much higher, and the ship is capable of producing very high delta-V.		Speed is still limited to 70 PSL, but the [[Acceleration curve]] is much higher, and the ship is capable of producing very high delta-V.

			===Plasma Duct===
			Not a design variatiant by itself, but in very high-performance versions the plasma flow can sometimes be split into a series of ducts. This is used chiefly when the intake and outlet are not in a direct line. Ducting is used additionally by wrapping the ducts hellically along the path of travel, which increases the effective length of the engine. This is done along the Magneto Accelerator to provide additional area to add acceleration. Further, the space in between the ducts can be used to fit a gravity field generator employing a spinning field design, which adds extra force to the plasma at a cost of greater electrical requirements.

	==Notable Examples of Ion-Vacuum Technology==		==Notable Examples of Ion-Vacuum Technology==

CourseDirector: /* Augments */

2018-02-06T00:03:04Z

Augments

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:03, 6 February 2018
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	*The third method is to increase the power of the nuclear reaction happening in the engines by adding additional fusion material. While method two above does this, using an isotope compound such as deuterium or tritium produces considerably more power. This augment method is best used when sufficient electrical power is unavailable or in short supply, and is a way to increase the reactant rates when the compression chamber is not operating at full efficiency.		*The third method is to increase the power of the nuclear reaction happening in the engines by adding additional fusion material. While method two above does this, using an isotope compound such as deuterium or tritium produces considerably more power. This augment method is best used when sufficient electrical power is unavailable or in short supply, and is a way to increase the reactant rates when the compression chamber is not operating at full efficiency.

	While all three methods can be used simultaneously, only any combination of two is likely to have a significant impact on engine output. All three together will result in plasma that is hotter, but not necessarily exiting the ship any faster.		While all three methods can be used simultaneously, only any combination of two is likely to have a significant impact on engine output. All three together will result in plasma that is hotter, but not necessarily exiting the ship any faster.

	==Engine Power Descriptors==		==Engine Power Descriptors==

CourseDirector at 00:52, 17 January 2018

2018-01-17T00:52:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:52, 17 January 2018
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	*'''Magneto Accelerator'''		*'''Magneto Accelerator'''
	**After re-combination, the now highly-energetic plasma is channeled through a magnetodynamic system where it is energized and ~~further accelerated~~.		**After re-combination, the now highly-energetic plasma is channeled through a magnetodynamic system where it is energized and guided to the magnetic nozzle. In normal modes of operation, this section of engine only channels the plasma; however it can be used to increase acceleration if sufficient electrical power is available.

	*'''Magnetic Nozzle'''		*'''Magnetic Nozzle'''
	**Actually a combination of electromagnets and force fields, the magnetic nozzle is where the plasma leaves the ship.		**Actually a combination of electromagnets and force fields, the magnetic nozzle is where the plasma leaves the ship.

			==Augments==
			Engine-output can be increased in three ways:

			*The first is by over-volting the magnetic constrictors in the Magneto Accelerator. Further speed can be obtained by doing the same in the compression stages or anywhere else magnetic constrictors are used; however, doing so produces significant stress on the engine, and the only "safe" place to carry out this procedure is in the accelerator. Over-volting the constrictors will also reduce constrictor-life.

			*The second method is by adding more reactant mass. This can be achieved simply by channeling extra material(preferably fluid or gas into the drive. Under normal operations, the engines function by drawing in the extremely scant amount of gas found in the vacuum of space. Therefore, adding a comparatively small amount of water can have a significant impact on engine performance. The water is converted into plasma by the engine and adds additional reactant mass. Some engine variants are even designed to carry a reactant mass. However, doing this in the long-term is not efficient, and is mainly an augment-mode.

			*The third method is to increase the power of the nuclear reaction happening in the engines by adding additional fusion material. While method two above does this, using an isotope compound such as deuterium or tritium produces considerably more power. This augment method is best used when sufficient electrical power is unavailable or in short supply, and is a way to increase the reactant rates when the compression chamber is not operating at full efficiency.

			While all three methods can be used simultaneously, only any combination of two is likely to have a significant impact on engine output. All three together will result in plasma that is hotter, but not necessarily exiting the ship any faster.

	==Engine Power Descriptors==		==Engine Power Descriptors==