Title :
Characterization of low power DC/DC converter modules at cryogenic temperatures
Author :
Elbuluk, Malik E. ; Gerber, Scott ; Hammoud, Ahmad ; Patterson, Richard L.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Akron Univ., OH, USA
Abstract :
The operation of power electronic systems at cryogenic temperatures is anticipated in many NASA space missions such as planetary exploration and deep space probes. In addition to surviving the hostile space environments, electronics capable of low temperature operation would contribute to improving circuit performance, increasing system efficiency, and reducing development and launch costs. As part of the on-going Low Temperature Electronics Program at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), several commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) DC/DC converters have been characterized in terms of their performance as a function of temperature in the range of 20°C to -180°C. These converters ranged in electrical power from 8 W to 13 W, input voltage from 9 V to 75 V and an output voltage of 3.3 V. The experimental set-up and procedures along with the results obtained on the converters´ steady-state and dynamic characteristics are presented and discussed
Keywords :
DC-DC power convertors; cryogenic electronics; space vehicle electronics; 20 to -180 C; 3.3 V; 8 to 13 W; 9 to 75 V; Low Temperature Electronics Program; NASA Glenn Research Center; circuit performance improvement; cryogenic temperatures; development costs reduction; dynamic characteristics; launch costs reduction; low power DC/DC converter modules; power electronic systems operation; space missions; spacecraft; steady-state characteristics; system efficiency increase; Circuit optimization; Cryogenics; DC-DC power converters; NASA; Power electronics; Probes; Space exploration; Space missions; Temperature distribution; Voltage;
Conference_Titel :
Industry Applications Conference, 2000. Conference Record of the 2000 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Rome
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-6401-5
DOI :
10.1109/IAS.2000.882598
