Power Processing Unit (PPU) for 10kW Class Hall Effect Thruster (HET)

Busek Co. Inc. proposes to develop modular efficient light-weight Power Processing Unit (PPU) for 10 kW class Hall effect thrusters (HETs). The primary application is to drive the BHT-7000 HET being developed under SMC Contract FA8808-20-C-0041. Present commercial domestically available flight qualified PPU efforts are limited to 4.5 kW where the baseline metric is ~ 0.36 kW/kg, and no major advancements are being pursued. The discharge power supply (DPS) processes over 90% power in PPU and steps up the battery voltage as required by the thruster to maneuver the spacecraft. In Phase II, we’ll build multiple GaN-based 2 kW DPS modules with ~1.8 kW/kg power density which is two (2x) times better than current SOTA. GaN based converter offers higher efficiency, high switching frequency, smaller magnetics size, natural radiation hardness, and compact packaging. The controller will be designed as well to provide parallel and/or series operation capability of the 2 kW DPS modules to meet different mission requirements. The proposed PPU architecture, with a ~2x reduction in dry mass increases mission capabilities and maneuverability of DoD, commercial, and civil missions alike while advancing the current SOTA of high-power propulsion technology.