Description
The objective of this activity is to develop and test a modular 100W-class Ku- and Ka-band universal compact Electronic Power Conditioner (EPC) based on MHz-range switching frequency, high temperature, wide bandgap technology and planar magnetics. This will include an efficient thermal management design.Targeted Improvements: - Mass, footprint and volume reduction up to 30% whilst maintaining efficiency comparable to current state of art.- Compatibility up to 85deg C. base plate operating temperature.- Assembly and testing efforts reduced by 30%.Description: At present band-specific electronic power conditioners (EPC) exist for Ku, and Ka bands. However, there is a market pull towards more compact solutions to better compete with SSPA based technology. Mini tubes under development are a new market opportunity and this triggers a demand for a new class of EPCs. The next generation of EPCs will be expected to be frequency agnostic and more competitive with respect to their complexity and time to market. To drastically reduce the size of EPCs, new technological solutions need to be developed and spun-in from non-space sectors. The manufacturing complexity will needto be drastically reduced. Various new technologies could be combined to achieve these ambitious goals such as employing Componentsof the Shelf (COTS), high frequency DC-DC converter topologies, high performant compact high voltage insulation solutions, advancedthermal concepts, digital control, a flexible and modular architectures, the use of wide bandgap technology and planar magnetic solutions.This activity will design, manufacture and test an engineering model of a compact, high temperature and modular electronic power conditioner to validate the developed concepts. This shall include, as a minimum, one slice of the EPC needed to drive a set ofdual travelling wave tubes (DTWTs)