A switching power supply, in which a series circuit consisting of a primary winding of a transformer (4) and a controllable switch (3) is connected with a DC power source (l0) and a secondary winding of the trans­former is connected with a first voltage source (50) outputting the voltage developed across the secondary winding during the on-period of the controllable switch and a second voltage source (60) storing the exciting energy of the transformer during the off-period of the controllable switch by using the exciting inductance of the transformer as a current source, a series circuit consisting of the first and the second voltage sources being connected with a load (70). Owing to this construction, even if voltage-current characteristic of a load having constant voltage chracteristic, such as a magnetron, vary due to variations in the temperature, etc., the output voltage is automatically compensated and a stable electric power can be supplied to the load.

Switching power supply

A single power control circuit selectively distributes power from a power supply to cathode heater, cathode keeper and thruster magnets of a thruster. The power control circuit utilizes a plurality of switching devices to direct power to one or more of the heater, keeper, and magnet components.

Method and apparatus for selectively distributing power in a thruster system

A dc power supply for spacecraft arcjet thrusters has an integral automatic starting circuit and an output averaging inductor. The output averaging inductor, in series with the load, provides instantaneous current control, and ignition pulse and an isolated signal proportional to the arc voltage. A pulse width modulated converter, close loop configured, is also incorporated to give fast response output current control.

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Arcjet power supply and start circuit

Previous efforts to develop power electronics for Hall thruster systems have targeted the 1 to 5 kW power range and an output voltage of approximately 300 V. New Hall thrusters are being developed for higher power, higher specific impulse, and multi-mode operation. These thrusters require up to 50 kW of power and a discharge voltage in excess of 600 V. Modular power supplies can process more power with higher efficiency at the expense of complexity. A 1 kW discharge power module was designed, built and integrated with a Hall thruster. The breadboard module has a power conversion efficiency in excess of 96 percent and weighs only 0.765 kg. This module will be used to develop a kW, multi-kW, and high voltage power processors.

/pdf/high-performance-power-module-for-hall-effect-thrusters-px41wz9kl0.pdf

High Performance Power Module for Hall Effect Thrusters

The invention relates to an ignition method of a plasma hall thruster, which belongs to the field of control on hall thrusters and aims to solve the problem that an existing hall thruster needs to be ignited by an extra ignition power supply. The method disclosed by the invention is characterized by adding an ignition loop into a low-frequency oscillation suppression outside loop to replace an ignition power supply U3, wherein the ignition loop comprises a controllable switch S1 and a diode unit D1. The method comprises the following steps: (1) heating a power supply U2 so as to heat a cathode K to the ignition temperature, (2) controlling to close the controllable switch S1 and keeping for the time T1, and (3) controlling to open the controllable switch S1, and loading an anode A and the cathode K of the hall thruster with ignition voltage U(t) which is equal to U1+UL(t), wherein when electrons which are guided out of an outlet area of the cathode by the ignition voltage U(t) satisfy discharge voltage, the ignition of the hall thruster is completed.

Ignition method of plasma hall thruster

Power-processing unit uses AC buses (30, 32) to supply all current dependent needs such as connections (54, 56) to an ion thruster through an inductor (88) and the primary of a transformer (90), to assure limited currents to such loads. Where temperature control is also required, such as to the main discharge vaporizer heater connection (36, 38), switches (100, 102) are serially connected with inductor (96) and the primary of transformer (98). Temperature sensor (104) controls the switches (100, 102) for temperature regulation.

/pdf/power-processing-unit-npk3kor4w9.pdf

Power-processing unit

Une unite de traitement de puissance utilise des bus a courant alternatif (30, 32) pour satisfaire tous les besoins en courant, tels que des connexions (54, 56) et alimenter un propulseur ionique par l'intermediaire d'un inducteur (88) et le primaire d'un transformateur (90), de maniere a assurer des courants limites pour de telles charges. Lorsqu'une regulation de la temperature est egalement requise, comme dans la connexion du radiateur du vaporisateur de decharge principal (36, 38), des commutateurs (100, 102) sont relies en serie avec un inducteur (96) et le primaire du transformateur (98). Un capteur de temperature (104) commande les commutateurs (100, 102) pour obtenir une regulation de temperature.

Donald J. Hancock

Papers

Power-processing unit

Unite de traitement de puissance