5 kW class Power Processing Unit (PPU)

Objective(s): ​The product proposed to be developed was the EM of 5 kW class Power Processing Unit (PPU) based on SITAEL long-standing heritage in the field of electric propulsion, high voltage power conversion and more “conventional” platform and payload avionics. The development of the proposed PPU took advantage from an elegant breadboard internally funded and developed by SITAEL, to enrich SITAEL PPU portfolio also for anodic discharge power level in the range of 5 kW.

Achievements and status: ​During the 5KWPPU GSTP activity, an EM model of a 5KW PPU with innovative design based on a single 5 kW Anode discharge module, and on a Simplified Dual Mode power architecture (maximum thrust and maximum Isp) with a good flexibility for what concerns the propellant (Xe or Kr) has been designed, manufactured, and electrically tested. ​In addition, the PPU has been modularly conceived to be proposed both in non-redundant and internally redundant configuration, and to easily allow, in future versions, the parallel connection of more PPUs in hot redundancy, thus opening up the possibility to drive even 20 kW in 5 kW step.​At the end of the activity the EM PPU has been successfully coupled with its main Target Thruster (SITAEL HT5K) and with both a FGSE and a Bradford EM XFCU.