Capacity Charging Circuits for Space Systems Using Silicon-Controlled Rectifiers

Silicon-controlled rectifiers were used in a capacity charging circuit for applications in space where high efficency and low weight are major considerations. This charger can be used to pulse lasers, plasma propulsion engines, sonar, or some thermonuclear devices. The system was compared to conventional designs and found to be particularly advantageous when the discharge rate was varied, or when the ratio of the capacitor charging period to the supply voltage period was high.