Abstract
This paper presents the Power Processing Units in Airbus DS Space Equipment.Electric propulsion has (EP) become a reality in the commercial market, and therefore is not anymore a niche market for earth observation and/or deep space missions. Major players worldwide for Commercial satellite manufacturers are targeting in their current programs, electric satellites solutions for orbit raising (OR) and station keeping (SK) maneuvers. Several EP technologies are competing against each other, in particular Hall Effect Thruster (HET), Gridded Ion Engine (GIE) technology (including Kaufmann and Radio Frequency technologies) and High Efficiency Multistage Plasma (HEMP). The main two parameters used to trade-off the main EP technologies are Thrust/Power ratio and Specific Impulse (ISP). Currently the market is mainly thrust driven, and therefore the dominant technology is HET. HET is the most efficient technology for the Thrust/Power ratio parameter.Airbus DS Space Equipment include in our portfolio PPU solutions for high Thrust ratio and high ISP solutions.
Highlights
MOTIVATIONElectric propulsion has (EP) business case is driven by current technologies, operator’s mindset, and future trends
Elektro PPU is physically implemented in three main building blocks: Heater-Keeper-Ignitor module (HKI), anode module and Filter thruster switching unit (FTSU) as follows: Figure 4 Airbus DS PPU “Elektro” Building Blocks (5 kW configuration)
This unit is the first 5 kW PPU ever developed in Europe, able to answer to the new full electric satellites needs for the Telecom market and the most demanding deep space missions
Summary
EP business case is driven by current technologies, operator’s mindset, and future trends. O step is to have available the maximum communality between the different technologies For this purpose Airbus DS Space Equipment is running a development of generic building blocks to customize the PPU to any EP thruster independently of its technology. The core element is the generic High Voltage Module, which can be described as a functional block that is designed to be customized to specific thruster needs by exchanging a sub-module without need for a delta-qualification. This modular approach provides the necessary flexibility and maximum of recurring elements. Airbus DS has managed to harmonize these products based on the generic High Voltage Power Supply (HVPS)
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