𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐏: 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲

Interesting progress has been made on the IPROP project in 2024, pushing the boundaries of ionic thruster technology for atmospheric and stratospheric applications. Here the project achievements so far:
▪️ 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
· Development of 2D numerical models for ionization and drift simulations.
· Promising preliminary results for testing innovative electrode geometries, tripling the thrust with respect to a wire-to-airfoil thruster of same size and voltage.
· Laboratory experiments in a low-speed wind tunnel have been performed on a wire-to-airfoil thruster with the purpose of evaluating changes in performance due to simulated flight conditions and, for the first time, comparing them with a simple physical model of the drift region which is in good agreement with the laboratory data.
· An experiment about ionization processes between electrodes in a cylindrical geometry is in progress with the aim of creating a reference for the theoretical and numerical ionization studies.
· Different techniques for measuring thrust, electrical parameters and flow characteristic are being tested in this phase of the research program, also including particle image velocimetry measures on electrodes systems of different sizes, shapes and materials.
· A testing campaign on the behaviour of ionic thrusters according to environmental conditions has just begun. different laboratory configurations are being prepared for testing the ion thruster’s performance against wide changes of the external conditions such as air pressure, temperature, humidity, radiations. These experiments will also include insulation tests and studies of the electrodes aging.
▪️ 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥-𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
· Early design work on airships powered by ion thrusters.
· A novel approach to integrating ultra-lightweight power systems for low-altitude missions.
▪️ 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 (𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐒):
· Initial feasibility studies for full-scale ionic airships operating at stratospheric altitudes has already started.
· A first application to the sizing of a high-altitude demonstration mission has been presented, working on data for a full-scale prototype.
For more information check the Research page on IPROP website: https://www.iprop-project.eu/research/
Our team is delighted about these promising results, which bring us closer to groundbreaking advancements in sustainable flight and high-altitude applications.