Characterization of low power DC/DC converter modules at cryogenic temperatures

摘要

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/spl deg/C to -180/spl deg/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.