High-Temperature, Radiation-Hard and High-Efficiency DC-DC Converters for Space

ABSTRACT:The research introduces a new design that enables size/weight/power reduction on primary bus of large satellites. This new solution has the potential to significantly increase power densities (very high efficiency) while providing ability to operate in very harsh environmental conditions (radiation and temperature survivability). The DC/DC delivers multiple voltages in a very modular and very agile design enabling it to be easily scaled to meet a wide range of small through large-scale satellite power management needs (30kW). The design fully leverages recent advancements in Wide Bandgap power switching devices by integrating newly designed sub-systems and packaging methods that can survive in the same environment as to enable operation to above 200C.BENEFIT:Military satellite missions, such as communications (antenna) and precision optic (observation) will greatly benefit from availability of the proposed new modular primary bus solution. The design and all its benefits can act as the backbone solution for such larger military satellite introducing superior capabilities in power density, radiation tolerance and high temperature tolerance. Our aerospace prime partner is heavily engaged in this market and already have specific mission launch Satellites needs to upgrade their primary bus performance. The new power management solution can also provide large SWaP benefits for SmallSat primary bus regulation by simply re-selecting the WBG FET devices and reconfiguring the enclosure size. The proposed advanced modular high power density primary bus solution proposed would have very near-term opportunities to transition to both underwater and automotive applications and also transition to high power/high voltage supply applications.