EXTREME ENVIRONMENTAL

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne solves your toughest engineering problems.

The Electronics Design team at Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has demonstrated skills and capabilities in providing solutions to complex electrical and electronics systems operating in extreme environments for the propulsion, power, aerospace, defense and energy markets. Extreme space design applications can be leveraged to solve extreme engineering applications as related to DC-to-AC inverters, DC-to-DC converters, mini-grids, large battery controllers, solar controls, motor controllers, sensor applications for power systems and engine controls.

Example

International Space Station Power Transfer Unit

The Power Transfer Unit (PTU) consists of three power converters. Two of these converters transfer 4.2kW of energy from a 120 VDC bus (Space Station) to a 28 VDC bus (Shuttle) at 92% efficiency. The third converter transfers 1.8kW of energy from a 28 VDC bus (Shuttle) to a 120 VDC bus (Shuttle) at 90% efficiency. The PTU fits into the form factor of the previous generation converter with 1.8kW of energy transfer at 78% efficiency.

As a result of using this converter, the Shuttle was able to extend its stay at the Space Station by up to six days allowing for a fuller payload and better time management for cargo transfers. This technology is easily scalable for both terrestrial and space applications.

Design Benefits

• • Space radiation tolerant designs
• • Advanced test facility for performing EMC/EMI testing, compliant with NASA/DoD requirements
• • Advanced processes and materials: Pulse Laser Deposition Capacitors and Resistors, AlSiC, SiC, Diamond and diamond-like coatings