Development status of the BPT Hall thruster power processor

Abstract

demonstrated operation with our full BPT system. The successful BPT System Demonstration Test included our breadboard-PPU, BPT-4000 4-kW thruster, PAC Hollow Cathode Assembly and PAC Xenon Flow Controller. The BPT System Demonstration Test was conducted at the PAC Hall Thruster Test Facility. Primex Aerospace Company (PAC) has successfully developed a new modular Power Processing Unit (PPU) designed to operate our BPT family of Hall Thrusters1*2. The new high-efficiency design builds upon our flight-proven RHETT Hall Effect Thruster Power Processor and incorporates several new innovations to improve performance, improve production manufacturability and reduce cost. Some of the important new features in our BPT PPU include: Modular architecture provides adaptability to different propulsion system architectures and thruster configurations Incorporation of the functionality of two PPUs into one enclosure Modular power converter design provides flexibility to full family of BPT power levels Significant use of automated manufacturing and test processes Large primary power converter size to reduce parts count Simplified design for cathode heater, cathode keeper and magnet supplies High-density packaging design to minimize mass and cost Our RHETT Hall Thruster PPU, shown in Figure 1, was successfully launched in October 1998 and continues to operate successfully on orbit. starting with our flight-proven RHETT PPU design and the proven designs and topologies of our arcjet PPU designs, we have incorporated the above described innovations to arrive at our new BPT PPU design.” We have successfully completed the breadboard design, fabrication and test of our new BPT PPU and Figure I Primex Aerospace Company Hall Thruster Power Processor