Analysis and optimal design of a resonant switching converter for space applications.

The design of converters for space applications is subject to a number of unusual constraints, such as low volume and weight, high efficiency operation, minimum components stress, low noise interference and resistance to ionizing radiation. The diode clamped series resonant converter (DCSRC) can be designed to satisfy some of the design constraints. A new approach in the analysis of the DCSRC, and a systematic way of designing for high efficiency and minimum component stress is presented. The direct relationship between the phase plane and the resonant wave shapes allows us to synthesize the closed-form solution and generate the output plane, which relates the normalized output current to the normalized output voltage for any load and any ratio of switching to resonant frequencies. The converter operation is optimized by superimposing the functions that describe the transistor stress and resonant tank component stress on the output plane. Experimental results are in good agreement with both the mathematical model and simulation. The effects of ionizing radiation on the converter performance under simulated space radiation conditions is also investigated