Design and development of a resonant DC-DC converter for satellite propulsion applications

This thesis presents the design, simulation, and prototyping of a high-efficiency DC-DC power converter tailored for satellite propulsion applications. In the rapidly evolving field of satellite technology, there is a growing demand for power converters that not only meet stringent efficiency requirements but also adhere to the compact size constraints imposed by modern satellite designs. The main objective of this work is to provide an overview as comprehensive as possible on the design of the aforementioned power converter. The proposed study and design employs a resonant DC-DC topology, known for its ability to minimize switching losses via ZVS, resulting in an improvement in the overall converter efficiency and a reduction in the electromagnetic emissions, critical aspects in aerospace applications. The thesis starts with a theoretical review of the chosen DC-DC resonant topology, reporting the informations needed for the study of the conditions required to guarantee ZVS operations of the converter. Next, a possible design methodology is developed using both theoretical and simulation tools developed using Matlab and LTSpice applicatives. Additionally, the performances of the converter in various operating conditions are reported considering variations in the input voltage and the converter load, ensuring the correct behaviour and the specifications adhesion of the converter. The prototyping phase involves the construction of a converter prototipe from the components selected in the design chapter. Testing and validation of the prototype are conducted to verify the coherence of the theoretical results with a real-world implementation.