Design and Experimental Comparison of Planar Transformers in a High Voltage, Low Power Converter for Nanosatellite Electrospray Propulsion

EasyChair Preprint 13439

Abstract

Electrospray thrusters use a high-voltage power converter to generate the electric field that extracts and accelerates particles to produce thrust. The efficiency of the converter in space applications is essential as it prevents the oversizing of the system and mitigates issues related to heat dissipation. One of the key elements of high-voltage step-up converters is the transformer. This article presents an experimental comparison of planar transformers, replacing traditional wire transformers, as they offer an advantage in terms of power density and geometry on platforms with strict constraints on volume and heat dissipation. Six solutions are characterized in a prototype with an output of ±1.5kV and 1-10W, and an input of 9-12V, achieving maximum efficiency of 89% in a volume of 5236mm³ and 88% in a volume of 2640mm³.

Keyphrases: Electrospray, Nanosatélites, Propulsión, alto voltaje, convertidor DC/DC, transformador plano

@booklet{EasyChair:13439,
  author    = {Francisco José Blázquez-Plaza and Juan Cruz-Cózar and Andres Barrado},
  title     = {Design and Experimental Comparison of Planar Transformers in a High Voltage, Low Power Converter for Nanosatellite Electrospray Propulsion},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 13439},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2024}}