Arcjet power supply and start circuit

Patent · Tue Aug 30 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6664978

Gruber, R P

This patent describes a dc power supply for an arcjet thruster having a regulated, constant current output, and comprising: (a) a pulse width modulated (PWM) converter; (b) means for controlling the pulse widths of the PWM converter to maintain current supplied to the thruster at a virtual constant value despite instantaneous changes in the thruster voltage; and, (c) an output current averaging inductor connected between the converter and the arcjet thruster to enable instantaneous current control, a high voltage ignition pulse, and a galvanically isolated voltage signal proportional to the arcjet thruster voltage.

• Assignee: Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4766724
• OSTI ID: 6664978
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330603* -- Vehicle Design Factors-- Engine System
42 ENGINEERING
420800 -- Engineering-- Electronic Circuits & Devices-- (-1989)
CURRENTS
DESIGN
DIRECT CURRENT
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
IGNITION SYSTEMS
POWER SUPPLIES
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
PULSE CIRCUITS
PULSE CONVERTERS
SIGNAL CONDITIONERS
THRUSTERS
VOLTAGE REGULATORS