Configurable High Voltage Power Supply for Full Electric Propulsion Spacecraft

Abstract

The present paper describes several technological topics featured in a new prototype of anode/beam supply for 5 kW Power Processing Unit (PPU), dedicated to be compatible with many thruster types and operating modes thanks to a configurable output stage and wide output voltage range. The achievements in terms of power density and cost reduction are attributed to a new electrical topology (Dual Active Bridge) allowing better current form factor and hence lower losses, but also to wide-bandgap semiconductors and to a new, high-power, high-voltage transformer. A versatile digital control has been implemented to be compatible with all output configurations and to use additional degree of freedom in the control loop to minimize certain losses.