Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Power processing unit (PPU) and electric propulsion system (EPS) for spacecraft
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Application No.: US17737432Application Date: 2022-05-05
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Publication No.: US11649072B1Publication Date: 2023-05-16
- Inventor: Jason Esquivias , Giovanni Lenguito
- Applicant: Maxar Space LLC
- Applicant Address: US CA Palo Alto
- Assignee: Maxar Space LLC
- Current Assignee: Maxar Space LLC
- Current Assignee Address: US CA Pato Alto
- Agency: Vierra Magen Marcus LLP
- Main IPC: B64G1/40
- IPC: B64G1/40 ; B64G1/42

Abstract:
Described herein is a power processing unit (PPU) for use with a Hall Effect Thruster (HET) and a Propellant Management Assembly (PMA) of a spacecraft. The PPU comprises an anode and ignitor supply subsystem that provides anode and ignitor signals to an anode and an ignitor circuit of the HET. The PPU also comprises a valve control subsystem that provides valve control signal(s) to valve(s) of the PMA. The anode and ignitor supply subsystem and the valve control subsystem are each coupled to a low voltage (LV) bus of an electrical power subsystem of the spacecraft. The anode and ignitor supply subsystem includes a step-up DC-DC converter having a transformer that steps-up a voltage of the LV bus to a higher voltage used to produce the anode and ignitor signals. The valve control subsystem is devoid of a transformer. An Electric Propulsion System (EPS) includes the PPU, HET and PMA.
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