A mechanical, thermal and electrical packaging design for a prototype power management and control system for the 30 cm mercury ion thruster | Zendy

Graham Sharp | Zendy; Louis Gedeon | Zendy; J. C. Oglebay | Zendy; F. J. Shaker | Zendy; C. E. Siegert | Zendy

Open Access

A mechanical, thermal and electrical packaging design for a prototype power management and control system for the 30 cm mercury ion thruster

Author(s) -

Graham Sharp,

Louis Gedeon,

J. C. Oglebay,

F. J. Shaker,

C. E. Siegert

Publication year - 1978

Publication title -

nasa sti repository (national aeronautics and space administration)

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Conference proceedings

DOI - 10.2514/6.1978-685

Subject(s) - ion thruster , mercury (programming language) , thermal management of electronic devices and systems , thermal , aerospace engineering , ion , temperature control , electrical engineering , systems engineering , propulsion , mechanical engineering , automotive engineering , nuclear engineering , engineering , materials science , computer science , physics , quantum mechanics , meteorology , programming language

A prototype Electric Power Management and Thruster Control System for a 30 cm ion thruster has been built and is ready to support a first mission application. The system meets all of the requirements necessary to operate a thruster in a fully automatic mode. Power input to the system can vary over a full two to one dynamic range (200 to 400 V) for the solar array or other power source. The Power Management and Control system is designed to protect the thruster, the flight system and itself from arcs and is fully compatible with standard spacecraft electronics. The system is designed to be easily integrated into flight systems which can operate over a thermal environment ranging from 0.3 to 5 AU. The complete Power Management and Control system measures 45.7 cm x 15.2 cm x 114.8 cm and weighs 36.2 kg. At full power the overall efficiency of the system is estimated to be 87.4 percent. Three systems are currently being built and a full schedule of environmental and electrical testing is planned.

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