Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.

Colorado Power Electronics, Inc.

Other

Aerojet-general Corporation

Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc.

Geoffrey N Drummond

Richard A Scholl

Bryce L Hesterman

Jeffery M Monheiser

John G Harpold

Vladislav V Shilo

George W McDonough

Tim Kerr

Shane A Lloyd

A fault recovery method for multi-phase power converters enables delivery of reduced output power of as much as 66% of normal power in the event of a shorted power switch component. The need for redundant power converters in conventional multi-phase space power systems is reduced, if not eliminated. Fault recovery includes 1) detecting a shorted power switch fault; 2) providing short circuit current protection; 3) providing isolation of the shorted power switch; and 4) reconfiguring the remaining undamaged power switches.

Fault recovery for multi-phase power converters

To explore deeper expanses of space, rocket ships need rockets that can last twice as long as conventional rockets. Modern rockets use the electric field to attract and accelerate charged particles out and away from the combustion chamber. Space qualified components to increase the electric field are difficult to obtain. Various embodiments of the present subject matter use multiple phases of an input signal into the power supply to cause the output DC voltage signal to be substantially smooth. These smoother signals reduce the voltage requirements of the output diodes and capacitors thereby making them easier to obtain.

High voltage multiple phase power supply

A power supply provides dc power over a wide range of output voltages at full operating power by utilizing multiplying circuits () supplied by a source of high-frequency alternating current (). The multiplier circuits include a plurality of multiplier cells containing at least two diodes () and a driving capacitor (). The multiplier cells are shunted by bypass rectifiers () arranged such that currents are allowed to flow from multiplier input terminals to power supply output terminals. The bypass rectifiers do not conduct current for low output current levels, but conduct increasing levels of current when output currents increase beyond a conduction threshold value, thereby increasing the maximum available output current. Interactions among the diodes and capacitors in the multiplier circuits cause the amplitudes of the multiplier input currents to remain relatively constant as the output voltage is varied while operating at full power.

Wide range DC power supply with bypassed multiplier circuits

Conventional power supplies that actify the grids of electric rockets use an output capacitor to smooth the output DC voltage signal. Large capacitors tend to store a great amount of energy. Arcing acts to transfer this energy to create a well or pit on an accelerator grid of the electric rockets that may eventually cause repeating arcing or perforation on the accelerator grid. Various embodiments of the present invention eliminate or reduce the need to use an output capacitor. Additionally, various embodiments of the present invention use multiple phases of an input signal into the power supply to cause the output DC voltage signal to be substantially smooth.

Multiple phase power supply for rocket engines

An electromagnetic device such as a power transformer comprises at least two tubular magnetic core sections spaced apart in substantially parallel alignment. The windings of the device are substantially disposed within each tubular magnetic core. The outer surfaces of the magnetic core sections are essentially unobstructed and available for contact with heat extraction elements. The core sections may be elongated relative to their cross-sectional dimensions in order to increase the cooling surface area. The device configuration accommodates a means of providing for selected values of leakage inductance using opposing projections extending inward from the tubular side walls of the cores. The configuration also accommodates a means of actively adjusting the leakage inductance of the device.

Parallel core electromagnetic device

There is provided by this invention a dc power supply that utilizes capacitors in parallel with the diodes of the rectifier bridge in order to increase the full-power load impedance range of the power supply. In addition it has the capability to selectively couple the capacitors to the diodes over a predetermined frequency. This invention applies to both single phase and multiphase converters.

Wide range DC power supply utilizing voltage doubling output capacitors and inductive choke to extend full power load impedance range

An improved system of igniting a plasma using a rapid voltage rise and thus causing ions that may be pre-existing to create secondary electron emission or the like is provided. In one embodiment, the voltage rise can be timed to be comparable to the transit time of the electrons across the plasma. It can also be arranged to achieve a voltage rise in less than 1000 microseconds, to result in a transition time that is less than one hundred times the transit time, to maximize the emission of secondary electrons, or even to merely result in collision energies ranging from 5 to 500 electron volts. The transition time can be controlled through an ignition control that may be programmable, may involve charging output storage devices, or may involve delayed switching to supply the increased voltage to the plasma after the storage elements have been more fully charged.

System for plasma ignition by fast voltage rise

An enhanced DC plasma processing system which acts to immediately stop current from flowing through the plasma allows a variety of alternative embodiments for varying applications. In one embodiment, a tapped inductor is switched to ground to achieve substantial voltage reversal of about 10% upon detection of an arc condition through voltage and/or rate of voltage change techniques. This reversal of voltage is maintained long enough to allow restoration of uniform charge density within the plasma prior to restoration of the initial driving condition. A technique for preventing arc discharges involving periodically applying a reverse voltage is effected through a timer system in the power supply.

Periodically clearing thin film plasma processing system

An enhanced reactive plasma processing method and system useful for deposition of highly insulating films. A variety of alternative embodiments are allowed for varying applications. In one embodiment, a tapped inductor is switched to ground or some common level to achieve substantial voltage reversal of about 10% upon detection of an arc condition. This reversal of voltage is maintained long enough to either afford processing advantages or to allow restoration of uniform charge density within the plasma prior to restoration of the initial driving condition. A technique for preventing arc discharges involving periodically either interrupting the supply of power or reversing voltage is effected through a timer system in the power source.

Enhanced reactive DC sputtering system

An enhanced reactive plasma processing method and system useful for deposition of highly insulating films. A variety of alternative embodiments are allowed for varying applications. In one embodiment, a tapped inductor (13 and 14) is switched to ground (9) or some common level to achieve substantial voltage reversal of about 10% upon detection of an arc condition. This reversal of voltage is maintained long enough to either afford processing advantages or to allow restoration of uniform charge density within the plasma (5) prior to restoration of the initial driving condition. A technique for preventing arc discharges involving periodically either interrupting the supply of power or reversing voltage is effected through a timer system (22) in the power source (1).

Enhanced thin film DC plasma power supply

A multiple phase switch mode plasma processing system generates alternating signals which may be coincidentally rectified or otherwise converted from AC to DC. The resulting DC signal has extremely reduced ripple and thus greatly reduced need for filtering of the generated DC output. Direct connection of the DC output is possible through a coupling having no substantially no reactive component. In situations where filtering is desirable the filtering can be reduced to about 1% of the energy supplied per cycle. This allows more accurate control of the power supply to the processing plasma. In addition, voltage regulation through frequency variation, resonance, circuit variation, and pulse width modulation can be utilized individually or in combination. The phase relationship of the multiple alternating signals may be determined so as to allow a regular phase relationship and thus minimize the small amount of ripple remaining.

Growing community of inventors

Fort Collins, CO, United States of America

Geoffrey N Drummond