Pulsed Valve Research Articles

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography using partial modulation via a pulsed flow valve with a short modulation period

Partial modulation via a pulsed flow valve for comprehensive two-dimensional (2D) gas chromatography (GC × GC) is demonstrated, producing narrow peak widths, 2Wb, on the secondary separation dimension, 2D, coupled with short modulation periods, PM, thus producing a high peak capacity on the 2D dimension, 2nc. The GC × GC modulator is a pulse flow valve that injects a pulse of carrier gas at the specified PM, at the connection between the primary, 1D, column and the 2D column. Using a commercially available pulse flow valve, this injection technique performs a combination of vacancy chromatography and frontal analysis, whereby each pulse disturbance in the analyte concentration profile as it exits the 1D column results in data that is readily converted into a 2D separation. A three-step process converts the raw data into a format analogous to a GC × GC separation, incorporating signal differentiation, baseline correction and conversion to a GC × GC chromatogram representation. A 115-component test mixture with a wide range of boiling points (36–372°C) of nine compound classes is demonstrated using modulation periods of PM = 50, 100, 250, and 500ms, respectively. For the test mixture with a PM of 250ms, peak shapes on 2D are symmetric with apparent 2Wb ranging from 12 to 45ms producing a 2nc of ~ 10. Based on the average peak width of 0.93s on the 1D separation for a time window of 400s, the 1D peak capacity is 1nc ∼ 430. Thus, the ideal 2D peak capacity nc,2D is 4300 or a peak capacity production of 650 peaks/min using the PM of 250ms. Additionally, for a PM of 50, 100 and 500ms, the 2nc are 4, 7, and 12, respectively. Retention times on 2D, 2tR, are reproducible having standard deviations less than 1ms. Finally, the processed data is shown to be quantitative, with an average RSD of 4.7% for test analytes.

Doping of Green Fluorescent Protein into Superfluid Helium Droplets: Size and Velocity of Doped Droplets.

We report doping of green fluorescent protein from an electrospray ionization (ESI) source into superfluid helium droplets. From analyses of the time profiles of the doped droplets, we identify two distinct groups of droplets. The faster group has a smaller average size, on the order of 106 helium atoms/droplet, and the slower group is much larger, by at least an order of magnitude. The relative populations of these two groups depend on the temperature of the droplet source: from 11 to 5 K, the signal intensity of the slower droplet group gradually increases, from near the detection limit to comparable to that of the faster group. We postulate that the smaller droplets are formed via condensation of gaseous helium upon expansion from the pulsed valve, while the larger droplets develop from fragmentation of ejected liquid helium. Our results on the size and velocity of the condensation peak at higher source temperatures (>7 K) agree with previous reports, but those at lower temperatures (<7 K) seem to be off. We attribute this discrepancy to the masking effect of the exceedingly large droplets from the fragmentation peak in previous measurements of droplet sizes. Within the temperature range of our investigation, although the expansion condition changes from subcritical to supercritical, there is no abrupt change in either the velocity distribution or the size distribution of the condensation peak, and the most salient effect is in the increasing intensity of the fragmentation peak. The absolute doping efficiency, as expressed by the ratio of ion-doped droplets over the total number of ions from the ESI source, is on the order of 10-4, while only hundreds of doped ions have been detected. Further improvements in the ESI source are key to extending the technology for future experiments. On the other hand, the separation of the two groups of droplets in velocity is beneficial for size selection of only the smaller droplets for future experiments of electron diffraction.

Ion/molecule reactions of dimethylamine with protonated analytes facilitate the identification of tertiary N-oxide functionalities in a linear quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer

A method is presented for the rapid identification of tertiary aliphatic and aromatic N-oxide functionalities in protonated analytes via ion-molecule reactions with dimethylamine (DMA) in a linear quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer (LQIT). DMA was leaked into the trapping region of the mass spectrometer and allowed to react with protonated analytes (ionized by electrospray ionization) for 500ms, after which all ions were detected. Protonated analytes with the tertiary N-oxide functionality react with DMA to yield exclusively product ions with m/z-values that are 45 units greater than that of the protonated analyte, corresponding to a stable DMA adduct. Collision-activated dissociation of the adduct ions suggests that formation of a hydrogen bond between DMA and the protonated analytes is responsible for the formation of the stable adduct. Hydrogen bond energies were calculated for several adducts at the B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level of theory (including correction for basis-set superposition error) to define the potential energy wells for the formation of [M+H+DMA]+ adduct ions. The relative enthalpies calculated for the [M+H+DMA]+ adduct ions were found to be lower than those of the products resulting from proton transfer from protonated tertiary N-oxides and one aromatic ketone, ketoprofen, to DMA. On the other hand, a protonated primary N-oxide, nitrosobenzene, exclusively reacts via proton transfer with DMA, which was calculated to be more exothermic than formation of an adduct ion. Collisional cooling was found to be crucial to the formation of an adduct ion for analytes with proton affinities lower than that of DMA. Ion-molecule reactions of protonated 4-nitro-2-picoline N-oxide (PA=206kcalmol−1) with DMA (PA=222kcalmol−1) in an FT-ICR at ultra-high vacuum with no buffer gas resulted solely in proton transfer to DMA. Finally, examination of the reactions of DMA with protonated clozapine and clozapine-4′-N-oxide demonstrated that DMA can be used to identify the N-oxide functionality in the presence of other basic functionalities. Compared to other reagents reported for the identification of tertiary N-oxide functionalities via ion-molecule reactions in a mass spectrometer, DMA is the only one volatile enough to be used in a multi-ported pulsed valve system designed for rapid introduction of several reagents, each diagnostic for a different functionality, for characterization of analytes as they elute from an HPLC.

Characterization of micron-size hydrogen clusters using Mie scattering

Hydrogen clusters with diameters of a few micrometer range, composed of 108-10 hydrogen molecules, have been produced for the first time in an expansion of supercooled, high-pressure hydrogen gas into a vacuum through a conical nozzle connected to a cryogenic pulsed solenoid valve. The size distribution of the clusters has been evaluated by measuring the angular distribution of laser light scattered from the clusters. The data were analyzed based on the Mie scattering theory combined with the Tikhonov regularization method including the instrumental functions, the validity of which was assessed by performing a calibration study using a reference target consisting of standard micro-particles with two different sizes. The size distribution of the clusters was found discrete peaked at 0.33 ± 0.03, 0.65 ± 0.05, 0.81 ± 0.06, 1.40 ± 0.06 and 2.00 ± 0.13 µm in diameter. The highly reproducible and impurity-free nature of the micron-size hydrogen clusters can be a promising target for laser-driven multi-MeV proton sources with the currently available high power lasers.

A New kHz Velocity Map Ion/Electron Imaging Spectrometer for Femtosecond Time-Resolved Molecular Reaction Dynamics Studies

A new velocity map imaging spectrometer is constructed for molecular reaction dynamics studies using time-resolved photoelectron/ion spectroscopy method. By combining a kHz pulsed valve and an ICCD camera, this velocity map imaging spectrometer can be run at a repetition rate of 1 kHz, totally compatible with the fs Ti:Sapphire laser system, facilitating time-resolved studies in gas phase which are usually time-consuming. Time-resolved velocity map imaging study of NH3 photodissociation at 200 nm was performed and the time-resolved total kinetic energy release spectrum of H+NH2 products provides rich information about the dissociation dynamics of NH3. These results show that this new apparatus is a powerful tool for investigating the molecular reaction dynamics using time-resolved methods.

Apparatus for the investigation of high-temperature, high-pressure gas-phase heterogeneous catalytic and photo-catalytic materials.

A high-temperature, high-pressure, pulsed-gas sampling and detection system has been developed for testing new catalytic and photocatalytic materials for the production of solar fuels. The reactor is fitted with a sapphire window to allow the irradiation of photocatalytic samples from a lamp or solar simulator light source. The reactor has a volume of only 3.80 ml allowing for the investigation of very small quantities of a catalytic material, down to 1 mg. The stainless steel construction allows the cell to be heated to 350 °C and can withstand pressures up to 27 bar, limited only by the sapphire window. High-pressure sampling is made possible by a computer controlled pulsed valve that delivers precise gas flow, enabling catalytic reactions to be monitored across a wide range of pressures. A residual gas analyser mass spectrometer forms a part of the detection system, which is able to provide a rapid, real-time analysis of the gas composition within the photocatalytic reaction chamber. This apparatus is ideal for investigating a number of industrially relevant reactions including photocatalytic water splitting and CO2 reduction. Initial catalytic results using Pt-doped and Ru nanoparticle-doped TiO2 as benchmark experiments are presented.

Temperature dependence of the photodissociation of CO2 from high vibrational levels: 205-230 nm imaging studies of CO(X1Σ+) and O(3P, 1D) products.

The 205-230 nm photodissociation of vibrationally excited CO2 at temperatures up to 1800 K was studied using Resonance Enhanced Multiphoton Ionization (REMPI) and time-sliced Velocity Map Imaging (VMI). CO2 molecules seeded in He were heated in an SiC tube attached to a pulsed valve and supersonically expanded to create a molecular beam of rotationally cooled but vibrationally hot CO2. Photodissociation was observed from vibrationally excited CO2 with internal energies up to about 20 000 cm-1, and CO(X1Σ+), O(3P), and O(1D) products were detected by REMPI. The large enhancement in the absorption cross section with increasing CO2 vibrational excitation made this investigation feasible. The internal energies of heated CO2 molecules that absorbed 230 nm radiation were estimated from the kinetic energy release (KER) distributions of CO(X1Σ+) products in v″ = 0. At 230 nm, CO2 needs to have at least 4000 cm-1 of rovibrational energy to absorb the UV radiation and produce CO(X1Σ+) + O(3P). CO2 internal energies in excess of 16 000 cm-1 were confirmed by observing O(1D) products. It is likely that initial absorption from levels with high bending excitation accesses both the A1B2 and B1A2 states, explaining the nearly isotropic angular distributions of the products. CO(X1Σ+) product internal energies were estimated from REMPI spectroscopy, and the KER distributions of the CO(X1Σ+), O(3P), and O(1D) products were obtained by VMI. The CO product internal energy distributions change with increasing CO2 temperature, suggesting that more than one dynamical pathway is involved when the internal energy of CO2 (and the corresponding available energy) increases. The KER distributions of O(1D) and O(3P) show broad internal energy distributions in the CO(X1Σ+) cofragment, extending up to the maximum allowed by energy but peaking at low KER values. Although not all the observations can be explained at this time, with the aid of available theoretical studies of CO2 VUV photodissociation and O + CO recombination, it is proposed that following UV absorption, the two lowest lying triplet states, a3B2 and b3A2, and the ground electronic state are involved in the dynamical pathways that lead to product formation.

Imaging multiphoton ionization and dissociation of rotationally warm CO via the B+Σ1 and EΠ1 electronic states.

Pathways for formation of C+ and O+ ions when applying (2 + 1) resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) of CO via the B1Σ+ and E1Π electronic states are characterized with the velocity map imaging technique. By employing an unskimmed pulsed valve, it was possible to obtain sharp images for a wide range of initial CO J-states. Most of the atomic ion production pathways could be assigned as one- or two-photon dissociation of a series of vibrational levels of the CO+ X2Σ+ and A2Π states. Large enhancements in dissociation of particular CO+ vibrational states in these progressions could be accurately assigned to accidental resonances of the REMPI laser with CO+ X2Σ+-B2Σ+ transitions.

Influence of locking and passive soft switching on hydraulic circuit efficiency

Throttling and fluid compressibility losses are the major losses which occur during the valve transition in a switched mode hydraulic circuit. To minimize the throttling energy loss, a soft switch concept with lock and release mechanism was introduced by different researchers. In the literature, two different kinds of soft switches, one locking and another passive, were introduced in a hydraulic circuit. Thereafter, experimental validation was reported considering only a locking-type soft switch. But the influence of the passive soft switch on the performance of the hydraulic system was not reported. In this article, how the passive soft switch would affect the system efficiency has been investigated through bond graph model simulation. It has been shown both numerically and experimentally by other researchers that the use of a passive soft switch and a locking mechanism, depending upon configuration, can lead to more than 66.1% reduction in throttling energy loss. In this article, it has been further shown that an additional 3.25% throttling energy is saved when the passive soft switch is discarded from the system and only the locking mechanism is retained. The critical parameters of the locking soft switch have been optimized through multi-run simulation and, thereafter, a relationship between the critical parameters of the locking soft switch and the throttling energy loss of the valve has been obtained by using multiple regression analysis. Also, the variations of energy losses with respect to different valve orifice areas, duty cycles, and pulse width modulation frequencies are investigated through simulation.

Pulsed valve matrix-assisted ionization.

We have developed a new ionization approach for matrix-assisted ionization with high temporal resolution using an electrically actuated pulsed valve. Matrix and analyte samples are deposited on a thin metal foil and placed at the inlet of an ambient ionization mass spectrometer. When the pulsed valve is actuated, a short puff of high pressure gas impinges on the foil and ejects particulate from the sample on the opposite side. Highly charged ions are formed from the particles at the mass spectrometer inlet. Using this source, multiply charged protein ions are produced within a selectable 4 second time window.

ChemInform Abstract: Spontaneous and Selective Formation of HSNO, a Crucial Intermediate Linking H2S and Nitroso Chemistries.

AbstractA steady state concentration of HSNO is obtained using a gaseous mixture of 1% NO and 0.1% H2S in Ne by supersonic expansion into a cavity through a pulsed valve at 25 °C.

New Method to Study Ion-Molecule Reactions at Low Temperatures and Application to the H2++H2→H3++H Reaction.

Studies of ion-molecule reactions at low temperatures are difficult because stray electric fields in the reaction volume affect the kinetic energy of charged reaction partners. We describe a new experimental approach to study ion-molecule reactions at low temperatures and present, as example, a measurement of the H2++H2→H3++H reaction with the H2+ ion prepared in a single rovibrational state at collision energies in the range Ecol /kB =5-60 K. To reach such low-collision energies, we use a merged-beam approach and observe the reaction within the orbit of a Rydberg electron, which shields the ions from stray fields. The first beam is a supersonic beam of pure ground-state H2 molecules and the second is a supersonic beam of H2 molecules excited to Rydberg-Stark states of principal quantum number n selected in the range 20-40. Initially, the two beams propagate along axes separated by an angle of 10°. To merge the two beams, the Rydberg molecules in the latter beam are deflected using a surface-electrode Rydberg-Stark deflector. The collision energies of the merged beams are determined by measuring the velocity distributions of the two beams and they are adjusted by changing the temperature of the pulsed valve used to generate the ground-state H2 beam and by adapting the electric-potential functions applied to the electrodes of the deflector. The collision energy is varied down to below Ecol /kB =10 K, that is, below Ecol ≈1 meV, with an energy resolution of 100 μeV. We demonstrate that the Rydberg electron acts as a spectator and does not affect the cross sections, which are found to closely follow a classical Langevin-capture model in the collision energy range investigated. Because all neutral atoms and molecules can be excited to Rydberg states, this method of studying ion-molecule reactions is applicable to other reactions involving singly charged cations.

Abstract 13097: Flow and Cardiac Output Redistribution in the Fetus With {S,D,D} Transposition of the Great Arteries and Intact Ventricular Septum: Insights Into the Pathophysiology

Introduction: Although the postnatal physiology of {S,D,D} transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum (TGA) is well established, little is known about fetal TGA. In the normal fetus, the pulmonary valve (PV) is larger than the aortic valve (AoV), there is exclusive right to left flow at the foramen ovale (FO) and ductus arteriosus (DA), and the left ventricle (LV) ejects 40% of combined cardiac output (CCO) through the aorta, primarily to the brain. In TGA, the LV ejects O 2 -rich blood to the pulmonary artery, theoretically leading to pulmonary vasodilation, increased branch pulmonary arterial flow and resultant reduced DA flow. We tested the hypothesis that TGA anatomy results in altered distribution of CCO, FO and DA flow, and valve size. Methods: We analyzed valve size, color flow and pulse Doppler on echocardiograms of 74 fetuses with TGA (2003-2015). Findings were compared with our institutional normal fetal data, n=222. Results: The LV component of CCO was higher in TGA than in controls (50.7% vs 40.2%, p&lt;0.001) with no difference in total CCO. Flow was bidirectional at the FO in 56 (75.7%) fetuses and at the DA in 24 (32.4%). Only 21.6% had normal exclusive right to left flow at both shunts. Bidirectional shunting was more common in the 3 rd trimester than the 2 nd (p&lt;0.03). In contrast to normal, TGA AoV and PV sizes were nearly identical, hence the AoV z-score was higher than the PV z-score (1.13 vs -0.65, p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: In TGA there is loss of normal right sided dominance, as each ventricle provides half of the CCO. The AoV is relatively large as it carries 50% of CCO rather than the normal 40%. The PV is relatively small as it carries 50% rather than the normal 60% of CCO. There is increased LV component of CCO (to the pulmonary arteries) and frequently bidirectional FO and DA flow. This may support the theory that high pulmonary arterial O 2 content lowers pulmonary vascular resistance, thereby increasing branch pulmonary arterial flow and venous return, increasing LV preload and output. Pulmonary sensitivity to O 2 is thought to increase later in gestation, which may explain the increased bidirectional shunting. Consequences of these flow alterations include increased aortic and likely brain flow, perhaps compensating for substrate deficiency in TGA.

A phenomenological combustion analysis of a dual-fuel natural-gas diesel engine

Energy security concerns and an abundant supply of natural gas in the USA provide the impetus for engine designers to consider alternative gaseous fuels in the existing engines. The dual-fuel natural-gas diesel engine concept is attractive because of the minimal design changes, the ability to preserve a high compression ratio of the baseline diesel, and the lack of range anxiety. However, the increased complexity of a dual-fuel engine poses challenges, including the knock limit at a high load, the combustion instability at a low load, and the transient response of an engine with directly injected diesel fuel and port fuel injection of compressed natural gas upstream of the intake manifold. Predictive simulations of the complete engine system are an invaluable tool for investigations of these conditions and development of dual-fuel control strategies. This paper presents the development of a phenomenological combustion model of a heavy-duty dual-fuel engine, aided by insights from experimental data. Heat release analysis is carried out first, using the cylinder pressure data acquired with both diesel-only and dual-fuel (diesel and natural gas) combustion over a wide operating range. A diesel injection timing correlation based on the injector solenoid valve pulse widths is developed, enabling the diesel fuel start of injection to be detected without extra sensors on the fuel injection cam. The experimental heat release trends are obtained with a hybrid triple-Wiebe function for both diesel-only operation and dual-fuel operation. The ignition delay period of dual-fuel operation is examined and estimated with a predictive correlation using the concept of a pseudo-diesel equivalence ratio. A four-stage combustion mechanism is discussed, and it is shown that a triple-Wiebe function has the ability to represent all stages of dual-fuel combustion. This creates a critical building block for modeling a heavy-duty dual-fuel turbocharged engine system.

Numerical Investigation of Shrouded Ejector-Enhanced Pulse Combustor Performance at High Pressure

A computational fluid dynamics investigation of a pressure-gain combustor system for gas turbine applications is described. The system consists of a valved pulse combustor and an ejector, housed within a shroud. The computational fluid dynamics solver is first validated by comparing its output to experimental measurements done on a pulse combustor operating at sea-level static conditions. Subsequently, the combustor inlet pressure and temperature are increased in the simulations to more closely align with those seen downstream of a compressor. Several parameters that influence combustor performance are then varied in order to demonstrate the potential benefit of optimization efforts. Emissions calculations are also performed. It is found that efficient high-pressure operation is possible and that system pressure gain of nearly 3% (at gas turbine compatible combustor temperature ratios) is achievable, with nearly smooth exit flow, having a competitive emission index. The potential for pulse combustors to achieve ultra-low levels of emissions at high-pressure conditions is also demonstrated.

Discontinuous atmospheric pressure interface for mass spectrometry using a solenoid pulse valve.

For the development of on-site mass spectrometry for security and safety, point-of-care analysis, etc., the gas volume introduced into the vacuum should be reduced to a minimum. To cope with this demand, a discontinuous atmospheric pressure interface using a solenoid pulse valve was developed. The sample gas was introduced discontinuously into the ionization cell with a volume of 0.17cm(3) . The sampled gas in the cell was ionized by an alternating current (ac) corona discharge. The generated ions were sampled through a 0.25mm i.d. and 12mm long nickel capillary into the vacuum of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. A gas flow rate of ~25mL/min was achieved with the 1Hz pulse valve operation and 20ms valve opening time. Sub-ng limits of detection for less volatile compounds such as explosives and drugs were obtained. Due to its compact size and low gas load to the vacuum, this new interface may be useful for applications in miniaturized mass spectrometry. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Communication: Electron diffraction of ferrocene in superfluid helium droplets.

We report electron diffraction of ferrocene doped in superfluid helium droplets. By taking advantage of the velocity slip in our pulsed droplet beam using a pulsed electron gun, and by doping with a high concentration of ferrocene delivered via a pulsed valve, we can obtain high quality diffraction images from singly doped droplets. Under the optimal doping conditions, 80% of the droplets sampled in the electron beam are doped with just one ferrocene molecule. Extension of this size selection method to dopant clusters has also been demonstrated. However, incomplete separation of dopant clusters might require deconvolution and modeling of the doping process. This method can be used for studies of nucleation processes in superfluid helium droplets.

Cold and intense OH radical beam sources.

We present the design and performance of two supersonic radical beam sources: a conventional pinhole-discharge source and a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) source, both based on the Nijmegen pulsed valve. Both designs have been characterized by discharging water molecules seeded in the rare gases Ar, Kr, or Xe. The resulting OH radicals have been detected by laser-induced fluorescence. The measured OH densities are (3.0 ± 0.6) × 10(11) cm(-3) and (1.0 ± 0.5) × 10(11) cm(-3) for the pinhole-discharge and DBD sources, respectively. The beam profiles for both radical sources show a relative longitudinal velocity spread of about 10%. The absolute rotational ground state population of the OH beam generated from the pinhole-discharge source has been determined to be more than 98%. The DBD source even produces a rotationally colder OH beam with a population of the ground state exceeding 99%. For the DBD source, addition of O2 molecules to the gas mixture increases the OH beam density by a factor of about 2.5, improves the DBD valve stability, and allows to tune the mean velocity of the radical beam.

A control algorithm for the magnetic drive of an air-pulse valve of an internal combustion engine

This paper proposes an adaptive control algorithm for the fast-acting electromagnetic air pulse valve (APV) of an internal combustion engine (ICE) without specialized position and speed sensors. The APV generates wave activity in the intake system via fast adjustment of the APV to open and close the intake passage and generates resonance in the cylinder-intake manifold in the whole range of ICE rotation frequencies. The electromagnetic drive is installed directly before the ICE intake valve and adjusted via a control system to ensure the required dynamical performance of the drive under external influences. The existing systems and methods of control to ensure required dynamical performance under external influences presuppose the use of specialized position or speed sensors, which makes the system more complicated; increases its weight, dimensions, and cost; and makes it less reliable in general. A complex mathematical model of the ARV mechatronic drive has been designed to analyze the operating performance of the magnetic drive and control methods. The suggested control method makes it possible to indirectly determine in real time the position in space and speed of the armature approaching the terminal by the type of armature voltage and changes in current, taking account of all destabilizing factors. This paper also presents the results of studying the influence of the magnet armature on failures of current as well as the influence of the current pickup on the armature seating speed. The method of calculating the armature startup time by the voltage alteration in the control magnet winding is described. As proven by the experiments, the suggested control algorithm ensures a final valve seating speed of <0.4 mps for a switchover time of about 3–4 ms; thus the efficiency of the suggested algorithm has been proven.

Performance scaling of inductive pulsed plasma thrusters with coil angle and pulse rate

A circuit model for an inductive pulsed plasma thruster was developed in order to investigate the performance of thrusters with conical coils; the model can accommodate cone-angles from 0° (a straight theta-pinch coil) to 90° (a planar coil). The plasma is treated as a deformable slug that moves both radially and axially in response to the force applied by the coil. The radial equation of motion includes a restoring force due to the plasma pressure, which is derived under the assumption that the electron population is isothermal, while the ions are isothermal, adiabatic, or shock-heated depending on the magnitude and sign of the radial velocity. The inductance of the coil and the plasma slug, and their mutual inductance, was determined using QuickField. A local maximum in efficiency and specific impulse was found for angles less than 90°; however the absolute maximum for both these quantities occurs at 90°. High pulse-rate operation was found to yield dynamic efficiencies (excluding ionization cost) as high as 60–70% for ISP in the range of 3000–5000 s, even for a device with modest jet-power (5 kW). This mode of operation also permits elimination of the pulsed gas valve, which would be a significant system-level simplification. An alternate mode of inductive recapture, in which the current is interrupted at the second zero-crossing, was found to result in a sacrifice of only 1–2% in efficiency, while offering other significant system-level benefits for this kind of thruster.