Power Processing Unit for the next generation satellite

The preliminary design of the Power Processing Unit (PPU) for the next generation satellite is presented. In the future, the next generation satellite will progress to higher thrust level, to wider thrust control range and to quick response. The Hall thruster is one of the promising candidates in the electrical propulsion system for this satellite. However, it is difficult to control the Hall thruster in a way that enables a stable operation for a wide operating range. We study the PPU using a new design approach of the controlling wider thrust range for a Hall thruster. By synchronously controlling three power supplies, the discharge current oscillation and inrush current at ignition can be suppressed. As a result, the PPU uses new control logic for the wider thrust range. The new control method is the pulse width modulation that achieves to operating requirements for reducing the consumption of propellant gas. The control logic realizes the quick ignition and smooth operation in a wider thrust range.