JPH0530656A - Satellite loading power supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To constitute a satellite mounting power supply system which has a simple circuit structure and has a broad operation temperature range by providing solar cells and super capacitors which are charged by the solar cells and, while the solar cells are inactive, discharge to supply power to loads. CONSTITUTION:Super capacitors 2 are sufficiently charged and upper limit voltages are limited by Zener diodes 3 which are initial conditions. At that time, powers are supplied to output terminals 4-7 from solar cells 1. While the solar cells 1 are inactive, the power is supplied by the super capacitors 2. The voltages of the output terminals 4-7 are declined by the discharges of the super capacitors 2 and, by the end of a shady period, the output terminal voltages are close to the lower limit of the output voltage range. When the shady period ends and the solar cells 1 start supplying powers, the voltages of the output terminals 4-7 are limited by the voltages of the super capacitors 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an artificial satellite power source system using a solar cell as a power source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 2, a power supply system for mounting an artificial satellite of this type comprises a solar cell 1, a charge / discharge controller 8, a secondary battery 9, a DC / DC converter 11, and the like. The surplus power of the solar cell 1 was charged to the secondary battery 9 through the charge / discharge controller 8, and the power from the secondary battery 9 was stabilized by the DC / DC converter 11 and the like in the shade to supply the power to the load.

[0003]

Since the above-mentioned conventional power supply system for mounting an artificial satellite uses the secondary battery, charge / discharge control becomes complicated and the system becomes large even when handling a small amount of power. There was a flaw.

Further, since the secondary battery has a limited operating temperature range, a temperature control circuit using a heater or the like is required, and the satellite thermal control as a whole is complicated.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A power supply system for mounting an artificial satellite according to the present invention is a solar cell and is charged by the electric power generated by the solar cell, and is discharged when the electric power generated by the solar cell is exhausted to supply electric power to a load. It is equipped with a super capacitor.

The artificial-satellite-mounted power supply system of the present invention may be constructed by connecting a Zener diode for limiting the upper limit of the output voltage to the load in parallel with the supercapacitor.

[0007]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a solar cell, 2 is a supercapacitor which is an electric double layer capacitor using activated carbon and dilute sulfuric acid as two different layers, 3 is a Zener diode for controlling the upper limit voltage, and 4 to 7 are It is an output terminal.

The capacity of the supercapacitor 2 and the number of parallel connections are determined from the output voltage range of the output terminals 4 to 7, the output current, and the shade time (time when the solar cell 1 stops supplying power). The Zener diode 3 determines the Zener voltage value according to the upper limit value of the output voltage range. For the solar cell 1, the number of series-parallel connections is determined in the same manner.

It is assumed that the supercapacitor 1 is sufficiently charged in the initial state and the upper limit voltage is limited by the Zener diode 3. At this time, electric power is supplied from the solar cell 1 from the output terminals 4 to 7. Power is supplied from the supercapacitor 2 during the period when the power generated by the solar cell 1 is exhausted. The discharge of the supercapacitor 2 causes the voltage of the output terminals 4 to 7 to drop, and at the end of the shaded period, the output voltage is near the lower limit value. Here, when the shade period ends and the power supply from the solar cell 1 starts, the output terminals 4 to
The voltage of 7 is limited to that of supercapacitor 2.
As the supercapacitor 2 is charged, the voltage gradually rises and the charging current decreases. Therefore, in the solar cell 2, the number of series-parallel connection may be set so that the output power becomes maximum at the lower limit value of the output voltage range of the output terminals 4 to 7, which is efficient.
When the supercapacitor 2 is sufficiently charged and reaches the upper limit value of the output voltage range, the surplus power from the solar cell 1 is consumed by the Zener diode 3.

[0012]

As described above, according to the present invention, by using a supercapacitor capable of realizing an extremely large capacity for the storage of electric power, a power supply system for mounting an artificial satellite having a very simple circuit and a wide operating temperature range is provided. Can be configured.
Further, it is advantageous in cost and life (the number of charge / discharge cycles) as compared with the case of using a secondary battery.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional satellite-mounted power supply system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 solar cell 2 super capacitor 3 Zener diode 4 to 7 output terminals

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An artificial satellite equipped with a solar cell and a supercapacitor that is charged by the power generated by the solar cell and discharges when the power generated by the solar cell is exhausted to supply power to a load. Power system. 2. The artificial satellite power supply system according to claim 1, wherein a Zener diode for limiting the upper limit of the output voltage to the load is connected in parallel to the supercapacitor.