Self Tracking Resonant Push-Pull Oscillator With Rectification (STRPOWR) for Faraday Cup Applications [formerly Variable High Voltage DC with 2 KHz AC Modulator for Faraday Cup Applications]

Advancing the instrumentation to detect elementary particles is critical for future space weather missions. To progress the study of the flow of energy that heats and accelerates solar corona and wind, a next generation Faraday Cup is needed. Extending the range of solar wind speed measurements to 2,500 km/sec or more requires a new, innovative power supply with significant high-voltage DC and AC modulation capabilities. The desired voltage output range for a next generation Faraday Cup is 150V to 40kV. The power supply developed in this effort handles the upper range of 8kV to 40kV. The Upper Range Power Supply (URPS) is broken up into two main subsystems for the DC voltage generation and the variable AC sine wave generation, which will be AC Coupled to the DC bias. The URPS includes AC and DC voltage generating sub-systems that are superimposed on each other via a coupling network. The AC sub-system is a novel resonant push-pull (RPP) converter that generates a 2kHz sine wave with variable peak to peak voltage from 1kV to 4kV.The RPP converter achieves zero voltage switching (ZVS) with a self-tracking gate drive circuitry implemented with GaN technology. The output of the 2kHz circuit is capacitively coupled to the DC bias to produce a high voltage sine wave with an ultra-high voltage offset for the Faraday Cup. The DC subsystem includes a five stage Cockroft Walton Voltage Multiplier (CWVM) driven by another RPP converter oscillating at 200kHz. The two sub-circuits are controlled independently to allow for maximum flexibility in setting DC offset and AC amplitude. Both outputs are coupled together and connected to a load that is a representative model of an actual Faraday Cup. Busek proposes to develop a novel power supply capable of 150V- 40kV DC with a 2kHz oscillation of up to 4kV peak to peak for Faraday Cup applications. An Upper Range Power Supply (URPS) and Lower Range Power Supply (LRPS) will be developed to cover the full voltage range. The URPS includes AC and DC voltage generating sub-systems that are superimposed on each other via a coupling network. The Resonant push-pull (RPP) converters are able to generate the necessary initial high voltages and waveforms. In order to achieve the ultra-high voltage, offset for high-speed measurements, a Cockroft Walton Voltage Multiplier (CWVM) was integrated to step up the offset to the maximum 40kV. The 2kHz waveform is superimposed onto the ultra-high voltage bias through capacitive coupling.  A simple capacitor network allows for the superposition of the DC bias and AC waveform creating an overall output that is capable of up to a 4kV peak-to-peak sinewave with a 40kV offset.  The LRPS will be built based on a similar architecture and closed loop control will be introduced to the system. Busek will develop the STRPOWR Power Supply for Faraday Cup Applications. The system contains a Lower and Upper Range Power Supply outputs to cover the full 150V-40kV DC range. Both power supplies will also couple a 2kHz variable amplitude sine wave to the output that will reach a peak-to-peak voltage equal to 10% of the DC bias. Improvements to efficiency and performance will be made to optimize the Resonant Push-Pull (RPP) converters and improve zero volt switching. A full breadboard system will be built, tested, and delivered that will be designed and packaged as a path-to-flight system. The key technical objectives are to improve efficiency and performance of the RPP converters, decrease the size of the URPS developed in Phase I by addressing high voltage packaging and magnetics design, designing the LRPS and integrating the system with a Faraday Cup in vacuum. To achieve these objectives, the workplan is divided into ten technical tasks that include simulation, PCB design and testing of both power supplies to deliver the final system.

This technology will advance Heliophysics missions such as the next generation Faraday Cup. The developed power supply has user controllable DC and AC subsystems that can offer a compact solution for an adjustable high voltage supply that ranges from 10kV-40kV or a fixed output. The proposed modular power supplies would include radiation tolerant components greater than 100kRad that can be integrated with other subsystems to supply critical high voltage needs for flight missions including Electrospray and RF Ion Thruster applications. The commercial sector is rapidly adopting Electric Propulsion. Electrospray applications, Hall-Effect and Gridded Ion Thrusters require high voltages to accelerate ions and produce thrust. Companies which utilize high voltage power supplies and probe diagnostic tools for ground based or flight ventures in both academic and commercial fields can utilize the proposed high voltage power supply.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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