Three Phase Resonant DC Power Converter for Ion Thrusters, Phase I

The new generation of, high performance electric propulsion missions will require high mass throughput and most likely the use of grided ion thruster equipped with carbon based grids will be required to meet the extremely high life requirements. However, because of the high susceptibility of these carbon based grids to damage during recycle event they will require a low stored energy beam power DC-DC converter. An innovative three-phase resonant DC converter, which produces high levels of DC beam power with minimal stored energy is proposed. This new design combines proven industrial technologies with a innovative new design that relies on combined outputs of phase-shifted converters to produce a low ripple DC voltage without output filtering. It is anticipated that stored energy can be reduced by two orders of magnitude when compared to the ?present state of the art? converters. Additionally, the resonant power conversion topology facilitates both higher switching frequencies and power densities, which in turn lowers power module mass. Once complete, these new DC-DC converters will significantly increase the current state of the art by reducing both the stored output energy and mass of the beam DC-DC converter. These changes will enable the present state of the art carbon based grids to obtain the required life for high performance deep space missions.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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