Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/J62937/01
Title:	HIGH VOLTAGE SPACECRAFT POWER CONDITIONING FOR HIGH POWER MISSIONS
Principal Investigator:	Forsyth, Professor A
Other Investigators:	Evans, Professor P
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Electronic, Electrical and Computer Eng
Organisation:	University of Birmingham
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 October 1993	Ends:	30 September 1996	Value (£):	145,986
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Control Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Aerospace, Defence and Marine
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
New instruments and devices now under development for spacecraft applications (for example electric propulsion systems) require high voltage power supplies at power levels considerably in excess of those normally used in space. Furthermore, these devices constitute complex, non-linear load with numerous unusual fault modes. In order to provide the high performance power supplies now required in space, major advances are needed in the understanding and control of power conditioning systems. This programme of work addresses a number of generic problems which are common to many spacecraft applications. However, owing to the authors' experience with ion thruster power supplies, this application area is to be used as a vehicle on which to develop the underlying techniques which are required for high power, high performance spacecraft power conditioning. A prototype, 10 kW, power conditioning system consisting of series connected modules and a dummy thruster load is to be constructed with a micro-controller development and emulation system used for control. A detailed simulation model of the complete system is to be implemented using the package Saber. Intelligent, self-optimising control techniques are to be developed which maximise efficiency, track the optimum thruster operating point and ensure optimum dynamic performance. The simulation is to be used to identify and examine the system instability and fault modes.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.bham.ac.uk