A flying capacitor multilevel (FCML) converter including a gate driver circuit comprising a DC-DC flyback converter having a plurality of isolated outputs. In various examples, the FCML circuit further includes a first control circuit connected to the FCML circuit determining the load current associated with a desired power output from the load; and determining a desired output voltage associated with the load current; a second control circuit that drives an inductor current (IL) through the inductor so that the output applies an output voltage comprising the desired output voltage; and a third control circuit obtaining a comparison of an average of the inductor current (IL) through the inductor with a predetermined reference current (ILREF) and setting the duty cycle so that the average does not exceed the predetermined reference current. Also described is the converter driving a load comprising a plasma and a propulsion system comprising the converter.
Flying capacitor multilevel converters for anode supplies in hall effect thrusters
2022-09-20
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | H02M APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS , Anlagen zur Umformung von Wechselstrom in Wechselstrom, von Wechselstrom in Gleichstrom oder umgekehrt, oder von Gleichstrom in Gleichstrom und zur Verwendung in Netzen oder ähnlichen Stromversorgungssystemen / B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS / F03H PRODUCING A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR , Erzeugung von Vortriebskraft [Schub] nach dem Prinzip des Rückstoßes, soweit nicht anderweitig vorgesehen / H01J Elektrische Entladungsröhren oder Entladungslampen , ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS |
FLYING CAPACITOR MULTILEVEL CONVERTERS FOR ANODE SUPPLIES IN HALL EFFECT THRUSTERS
European Patent Office | 2021
|AIAA | 1990