New energy-efficient method of electrical propulsion in air by using charged microdroplets

A novel type of thrust system is proposed that operates in air and consists of an emitter of charged droplets and a multigrid electrode system in which the stream of these droplets flows in a constant longitudinal electric field, thereby initiating an air flow. The reactive force caused by the air flow and the efficiency with which the electric current energy is converted into the energy of this flow are estimated. It is shown that if a battery of hydrogen fuel elements is used as a power supply, this method of electrical propulsion makes it possible to reduce energy expenditure more than fourfold as compared to existing propeller vehicles. A feasible scheme is presented for a vehicle using such an engine.