DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF IGNITION POWER SUPPLY FOR ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEM

Abstract

Reliable high-voltage ignition is crucial for starting plasma discharge in electric propulsion thrusters. However, typical spacecraft power
systems only provide low-voltage DC levels. This paper outlines the design and development of a compact ignition power supply using an
isolated flyback converter. This converter can generate controlled kilovolt-range pulses from a low-voltage input. The proposed system includes
high-frequency MOSFET switching, a custom step-up transformer, rectification and filtering stages, and a closed-loop digital control scheme
to ensure stable and repeatable ignition performance. Protection and snubber networks help suppress voltage spikes and improve safety and
reliability. Simulation studies and laboratory tests show effective voltage gain, a smaller hardware footprint, and consistent pulse regulation.
These results indicate the system’s suitability for laboratory propulsion testing and scalable small-satellite applications.