PAGE CONTENTS
Objectives
Today, it is confirmed that an extended use of electrical propulsion is envisaged not only to perform Station Keeping Manoeuvers, but also for Electric Orbit-Raising.
Full-electric satellites have already been requested by European sat-coms operators. Airbus Defence and Space is already offering a full-electric version of its successful Eurostar 3000 platform, the so-called Eurostar 3000 New Generation Platform (NGP).
In this way, Airbus Defence and Space Crisa started the development of a New Generation of a modular Power Processing Unit (PPU NG) for both Station Keeping and Electric Orbit-Raising maneuvers.
The PPU NG architecture allows for an optimized distribution of the functions minimizing the number of boards and interconnections among them.
Crisa participates in the PPU NG by developing the HKISeq Module, which is in charge of the thruster’s power supplies, communications with platform and management and control of the full PPU NG as well as HETs connected to the module.
Challenges
PPUNG is a fully scalable and modular product with capability from 5 to 20kW, able to supply different thrusters. Successful coupling test have been passed with SPT-140 and PPS5000 Hall Effect Thrusters and possibilities to be integrated in different platforms as E3000 and NEOSAT.
System Architecture
The HKISeq module provides all the necessary resources required by the thruster during the start-up and control functionalities of the overall PPU NG. The modularity and packaging concept relies on 3 different sub-modules in order to insure a maximum segregation between the platform and the thruster, where high voltage and noisy signals are produced. The general architecture, including sub-modules, is shown on the following figure.
- Platform Electronics
- Cathode Electronics
- FCSU (Filter Cathode Selection Unit)
This way all the electronics associated to different grounds are in different PCBs making the HKISeq less susceptible to noise as different grounds are physically segregated.
Plan
The Artes 3-4 HKISeq Module development logic is split up in several phases to be in line with the Artes 3-4 project. These phases are:
- PHASE 0: HKISeq Module Definition phase up to Artes 3-4 KO
- PHASE 1: HKISeq Module Preliminary Design phase up to Artes 3-4 PDR
- PHASE 2: HKISeq Module Detailed Design Review phase up to Artes 3-4 CDR
- PHASE 3: HKISeq Module EQM manufacturing and acceptance testing phase up to Artes 3-4 TRR and FR.
Current Status
PPUNG, including HKISEQ, has successfully passed the EQM Qualification campaign. The project is completed.
