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At least 73 records · Page 4

Fast simulation techniques for switching converters

Techniques for simulating a switching converter are examined. The state equations for the equivalent circuits, which represent the switching converter, are presented and explained. The uses of the Newton-Raphson iteration, low ripple approximation, half-cycle symmetry, and discrete time equations to compute the interval durations are described. An example is presented in which these methods are illustrated by applying them to a parallel-loaded resonant inverter with three equivalent circuits for its continuous mode of operation.

King, Roger J.

Computer-aided simulation study of photomultiplier tubes

A computer model that simulates the response of photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and the associated voltage divider circuit is developed. An equivalent circuit that approximates the operation of the device is derived and then used to develop a computer simulation of the PMT. Simulation results are presented and discussed.

Zaghloul, Mona E.

Design of a Mode Conversion Ultrasonic Motor for Position Control

The many useful characteristics of ultrasonic motors, such as high holding torques, and high torque at low speeds, have made them the subject of increasing interest. In addition, several of their characteristics make them attractive for aerospace applications: they have a torque to weight ratio, and they require neither gearing mechanisms nor lubrication. Moreover, they create negligible magnetic fields, and conversely, they are not affected by external magnetic fields. Ultrasonic motors based on bolt-tightened structures offer simplicity and high stress capability. They use the inverse piezoelectric effect in the stator to produce vibrational energy, which is transferred to the rotor by friction. We designed a bolt-tightened ultrasonic motor using numerical modelling tools (finite element and electromechanical circuit analyses), creating an equivalent circuit model that takes into account the electromechanical energy conversion in the stator and the contact between the stator and the rotor. Analysis of the circuit gives insight into the behavior of the motor and allows its performance to be calculated. Two prototypes of the motor were built; their transient responses and other quantities, such as starting torque, were measured. In this paper, we discuss the numerical and the experimental results, and demonstrate the usefulness of numerical analysis in designing ultrasonic motors and estimating their performance.

LeLetty, Ronan

Band-Pass Amplifier Without Discrete Reactance Elements

Inherent or "natural" device capacitance exploited. Band-Pass Circuit has input impedance of equivalent circuit at frequencies much greater than operational-amplifier rolloff frequency. Apparent inductance and capacitance arise from combined effects of feedback and reactive component of amplifier gain in frequency range.

Kleinberg, L.

Design of power electronics for TVC and EMA systems

The EMA systems proposed for future space transportation applications are high power systems operating at voltages up to 270 Vdc and at current levels on the order of hundreds of amperes. The position of the actuator is controlled by modulating the flow of energy from the source to an electric motor with an inverter. Hard-switching of the semiconductor devices in the inverter results in considerable device switching stresses and losses and in the generation of substantial amounts of EMI. Both of these can be reduced by employing zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) techniques in the inverter. This project has focused on the development of a ZVS inverter for the Marshall Space Center EMA prototypes, which utilize brushless dc motors to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy. An inverter which permitted zero-voltage switching and a quasi-PWM operation was selected for study and implementation. A waveshaping circuit is added to the front of a standard three-phase inverter to achieve the desired switching properties. This circuit causes the input voltage of the three-phase inverter to ring to zero where it is clamped for a short period of time. During this zero-voltage period, any of the semiconductor switches in the three-phase inverter are switched on or off at zero voltage resulting in a reduction in switching losses and EMI. The operation of this waveshaping circuit and its interaction with the three-phase inverter are described. The different circuit modes were analyzed using equivalent circuits. Based on this analysis, design relationships were developed for calculating component values for the circuit elements in the waveshaping circuit. Waveforms of various voltages and currents in the waveshaping circuit were plotted and used to determine the ratings of the semiconductors in the waveshaping circuit. The implementation of this inverter are described. Block diagrams for the overall control system and the waveshaping circuit control are presented and discussed. The current control scheme employed in the controller is also described.

Nelms, R. Mark

Magnetogasdynamic compression of a coaxial plasma accelerator flow for micrometeoroid simulation.

A new configuration of a coaxial plasma accelerator with self-energized magnetic compressor coil attached is described. It is shown that the circuit may be treated theoretically by analyzing an equivalent circuit mesh. The results obtained from the theoretical analysis are shown to compare favorably with the results measured experimentally. Using this accelerator configuration, glass beads of 125-micron diameter were accelerated to velocities as high as 11 km/sec, while 700-micron-diam glass beads were accelerated to velocities as high as 5 km/sec. The velocities are within the hypervelocity regime of meteroids.

Igenbergs, E. B.

Magnetogasdynamic compression of a coaxial plasma accelerator flow for micrometeoroid simulation

A new configuration of a coaxial plasma accelerator with self-energized magnetic compressor coil attached is described. It is shown that the circuit may be treated theoretically by analyzing an equivalent circuit mesh. The results obtained from the theoretical analysis compare favorably with the results measured experimentally. Using this accelerator configuration, glass beads of 125 micron diameter were accelerated to velocities as high as 11 kilometers per second, while 700 micron diameter glass beads were accelerated to velocities as high as 5 kilometers per second. The velocities are within the hypervelocity regime of meteoroids.

Igenbergs, E. B.

Fabrication of multijunction high voltage concentrator solar cells by integrated circuit technology

Standard integrated circuit technology has been developed for the design and fabrication of planar multijunction (PMJ) solar cell chips. Each 1 cm x 1 cm solar chip consisted of six n(+)/p, back contacted, internally series interconnected unit cells. These high open circuit voltage solar cells were fabricated on 2 ohm-cm, p-type 75 microns thick, silicon substrates. A five photomask level process employing contact photolithography was used to pattern for boron diffusions, phorphorus diffusions, and contact metallization. Fabricated devices demonstrated an open circuit voltage of 3.6 volts and a short circuit current of 90 mA at 80 AMl suns. An equivalent circuit model of the planar multi-junction solar cell was developed.

Valco, G. J.

Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) Portable Liquid Oxygen Hardware Demonstrator

The Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) hardware demonstration will highlight the effort being conducted by Constellation's Ground Operations (GO) to provide the Launch Control System (LCS) with system-level health management during vehicle processing and countdown activities. A proof-of-concept demonstration of the FDIR prototype established the capability of the software to provide real-time fault detection and isolation using generated Liquid Hydrogen data. The FDIR portable testbed unit (presented here) aims to enhance FDIR by providing a dynamic simulation of Constellation subsystems that feed the FDIR software live data based on Liquid Oxygen system properties. The LO2 cryogenic ground system has key properties that are analogous to the properties of an electronic circuit. The LO2 system is modeled using electrical components and an equivalent circuit is designed on a printed circuit board to simulate the live data. The portable testbed is also be equipped with data acquisition and communication hardware to relay the measurements to the FDIR application running on a PC. This portable testbed is an ideal capability to perform FDIR software testing, troubleshooting, training among others.

Oostdyk, Rebecca L.

Simplified Theory of the Magneto

This paper contains part of the results of ignition investigations being made for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics at the Bureau of Standards, and describes a type of circuit which has been found useful for representing the action of high-tension magneto. While this equivalent circuit is relatively simple, and consequently can be used as a basis for deriving definite mathematical formulas for induced voltages and similar quantities, it has been found experimentally to correspond quite closely in its performance with the highly complicated electrical circuits of an actual magneto. In the paper formulas are given for the voltage induced in the secondary under various conditions of operation, and a number of numerical examples are worked out showing the application of the equations to a variety of practical problems.

Silsbee, F B

Functional models of power electronic components for system studies

A novel approach to model power electronic circuits has been developed to facilitate simulation studies of system-level issues. The underlying concept for this approach is to develop an equivalent circuit, the functional model, that performs the same functions as the actual circuit but whose operation can be simulated by using larger time step size and the reduction in model complexity, the computation time required by a functional model is significantly shorter than that required by alternative approaches. The authors present this novel modeling approach and discuss the functional models of two major power electronic components, the DC/DC converter unit and the load converter, that are being considered by NASA for use in the Space Station Freedom electric power system. The validity of these models is established by comparing the simulation results with available experimental data and other simulation results obtained by using a more established modeling approach. The usefulness of this approach is demonstrated by incorporating these models into a power system model and simulating the system responses and interactions between components under various conditions.

Tam, Kwa-Sur

Circuit model for characterizing the nearly linear behavior of avalanche diodes in amplifier circuits

A nonlinear circuit model for avalanche diodes is proposed. The model was derived by assuming that the bias dependence of the elements in a known small-signal equivalent-circuit model for existing diodes arises in a manner consistent with the theory of an idealized Read-type device. The model contains a nonlinear R-L branch, a controlled source, and a linear depletion capacitance. The model is used in the nearly linear sense to predict intermodulation distortion and gain compression in avalanche diode amplifiers. Computed results for amplifiers with existing diodes are shown to be in good agreement with experiment.

Penfield, P., Jr.

Integrated Motor and Drive (IMD) for Traction Applications Project (Final Technical Report)

This paper proposes the concept of the topological equivalence between the commutation cells of a voltage source inverter (VSI) and a current source inverter (CSI) using duality and equivalent circuit transformation techniques. A switching resonance of CSI is analyzed and an effective three-phase RC damper is derived from the dc-link RC damper of VSIs based on the topological equivalence of the VSI and CSI commutation cells. Furthermore, a new three-phase RC damper design framework utilizing the topological equivalence is proposed. Experimental results verify that the proposed three-phase RC damper design for CSI significantly reduces the switching resonance and improves the CSI’s output waveform total harmonics distortions (THDs).

42 ENGINEERING

Modeling of spacecraft charging

Three types of modeling of spacecraft charging are discussed: statistical models, parametric models, and physical models. Local time dependence of circuit upset for DoD and communication satellites, and electron current to a sphere with an assumed Debye potential distribution are presented. Four regions were involved in spacecraft charging: (1) undisturbed plasma, (2) plasma sheath region, (3) spacecraft surface, and (4) spacecraft equivalent circuit.

Whipple, E. C., Jr.