Abstract: A power supply for an ion engine comprises a multiphase alternator and a power converter comprising a voltage multiplier coupled to each phase of the alternator. Each voltage multiplier comprises one or more staged voltage doublers. The alternator phases may be coupled to each other in a Y configuration such that no common return line is required, and each phase of the alternator provides equal amounts of constant power in a balanced, sequential flow. The converter corrects for the alternator's inherent internal reactance, thereby minimizing the required output of the alternator and reducing the overall power required of the system. A controllable impedance can be inserted into a low voltage portion of the multiplier for selectably varying the output voltage and power of the supply.

Abstract: A power supply for an ion engine comprises a multiphase alternator and a power converter comprising a voltage multiplier coupled to each phase of the alternator. Each voltage multiplier comprises one or more staged voltage doublers. The alternator phases may be coupled to each other in a Y configuration such that no common return line is required, and each phase of the alternator provides equal amounts of constant power in a balanced, sequential flow. The converter corrects for the alternator's inherent internal reactance, thereby minimizing the required output of the alternator and reducing the overall power required of the system. A controllable impedance can be inserted into a low voltage portion of the multiplier for selectably varying the output voltage and power of the supply.

Abstract: A power supply for an ion engine comprises a multiphase alternator and a power converter comprising a voltage multiplier coupled to each phase of the alternator. Each voltage multiplier comprises one or more staged voltage doublers. The alternator phases may be coupled to each other in a Y configuration such that no common return line is required, and each phase of the alternator provides equal amounts of constant power in a balanced, sequential flow. The converter corrects for the alternator's inherent internal reactance, thereby minimizing the required output of the alternator and reducing the overall power required of the system. A controllable impedance can be inserted into a low voltage portion of the multiplier for selectably varying the output voltage and power of the supply.

Abstract: An arcing protection circuit for the screen and accelerator grids of an ion thruster engine includes an impedance, which in one embodiment, is fixed, and in another, is variable, coupled in series between the accelerator grid of the engine and a current return path of the grid in such a way that an increase in accelerator grid current resulting from a plasma arc occurring between the screen grid and the accelerator grid is converted by the impedance into a rapid reduction in the voltage difference between the screen and accelerator grids, thereby extinguishing the arc. The arcing protection circuit also includes a monitoring circuit coupled to the accelerator grid that senses an increase in the voltage on the accelerator grid resulting from the plasma arc, and in response thereto, causes the accelerator grid power supply to reduce the voltage on the accelerator grid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power converter and a method for converting power. The power converter comprises an inductor, a transformer, first and second switches, a diode, and a full bridge. The inductor comprises a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding, and is coupled to an input voltage. The transformer has a first primary winding coupled to the first winding of the inductor, a second primary winding coupled to the second winding of the inductor, and a third primary winding coupled to the third winding of the inductor. The first switch is coupled to the first primary winding of the transformer, and the second switch is coupled to the second primary winding of the transformer. The diode is coupled to the third primary winding of the transformer. The full bridge is coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer, and the output voltage emanates therefrom.

Abstract: A DC to DC converter that uses three switching devices and processes power in such a way that it can operate very efficiently. The converter only processes that portion of the input power that is required to provide regulation. In addition, by judiciously selecting magnetic components and turns ratios, the converter can be optimized for narrow input voltage ranges or for wide input voltage ranges. The converter operates in such a way that it can add or subtract energy on the primary side of the converter to achieve regulation.