WO2019210358A1 - A power supply - Google Patents
A power supply Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2019210358A1 WO2019210358A1 PCT/AU2019/050388 AU2019050388W WO2019210358A1 WO 2019210358 A1 WO2019210358 A1 WO 2019210358A1 AU 2019050388 W AU2019050388 W AU 2019050388W WO 2019210358 A1 WO2019210358 A1 WO 2019210358A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- power supply
- energy
- supply according
- source
- energy storage
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000004146 energy storage Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 41
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000003306 harvesting Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 description 3
- WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Lithium Chemical compound [Li] WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001351 cycling effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910052744 lithium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 2
- 208000032953 Device battery issue Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 241001061260 Emmelichthys struhsakeri Species 0.000 description 1
- HBBGRARXTFLTSG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Lithium ion Chemical compound [Li+] HBBGRARXTFLTSG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001010 compromised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910001416 lithium ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052715 tantalum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- GUVRBAGPIYLISA-UHFFFAOYSA-N tantalum atom Chemical compound [Ta] GUVRBAGPIYLISA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J7/34—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J7/34—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering
- H02J7/35—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering with light sensitive cells
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J1/00—Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks
- H02J1/10—Parallel operation of dc sources
- H02J1/102—Parallel operation of dc sources being switching converters
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J3/00—Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
- H02J3/28—Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
- H02J3/32—Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy using batteries with converting means
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J3/00—Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
- H02J3/38—Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
- H02J3/46—Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J7/00032—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries characterised by data exchange
- H02J7/00036—Charger exchanging data with battery
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J7/34—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering
- H02J7/345—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
- H02S10/00—PV power plants; Combinations of PV energy systems with other systems for the generation of electric power
- H02S10/40—Mobile PV generator systems
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
- H02S50/00—Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/42—Arrangements or adaptations of power supply systems
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J2207/00—Indexing scheme relating to details of circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J2207/40—Indexing scheme relating to details of circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J2300/00—Systems for supplying or distributing electric power characterised by decentralized, dispersed, or local generation
- H02J2300/20—The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
- H02J2300/22—The renewable source being solar energy
- H02J2300/24—The renewable source being solar energy of photovoltaic origin
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J2300/00—Systems for supplying or distributing electric power characterised by decentralized, dispersed, or local generation
- H02J2300/20—The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
- H02J2300/22—The renewable source being solar energy
- H02J2300/24—The renewable source being solar energy of photovoltaic origin
- H02J2300/26—The renewable source being solar energy of photovoltaic origin involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J3/00—Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
- H02J3/38—Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
- H02S40/00—Components or accessories in combination with PV modules, not provided for in groups H02S10/00 - H02S30/00
- H02S40/30—Electrical components
- H02S40/38—Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- Y02E10/56—Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E70/00—Other energy conversion or management systems reducing GHG emissions
- Y02E70/30—Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a power supply.
- the invention has been developed primarily as a power supply for use in a CubeSat satellite and will be described herein with reference to that application. However, the invention is not limited to that particular field of use and is also suitable for many other uses, including as a power supply for other standalone devices or as a power supply for wearable systems such as a soldier system, space suit or health monitoring system or as a power supply relying upon intermittent energy sources.
- Electrically powered standalone devices such as CubeSat satellites, typically include a power supply system capable of supplying power to the electrical load presented by the satellite.
- a power supply system usually includes an array of solar panels to generate in combination a supply current and a power supply for drawing the supply current and converting it into a load current to supply to the load.
- the power supply typically includes a battery and a battery charging regulator.
- the battery charging regulator receives the supply current to generate a charging current for the battery which, in turn, acts as an electrochemical store of energy that is drawn upon to generate the load current.
- a power supply for a standalone device having a common power rail including a plurality of power supply units each including:
- the power source includes a plurality of sub- sources.
- each of the plurality of sub-sources is connected, and provides source energy, to a corresponding input.
- a subset of the plurality of sub-sources include photovoltaic panels.
- each sub-source includes a photovoltaic panel.
- each photovoltaic panel includes at least one photovoltaic cell.
- At least a subset of the energy storage devices each include a rechargeable direct current (DC) energy storage unit.
- DC direct current
- the energy storage device includes a rechargeable direct current (DC) energy storage unit.
- DC direct current
- the energy storage unit includes a battery.
- the battery is a lithium-polymer battery.
- the battery is a single cell lithium-polymer battery.
- the energy storage device includes a supercapacitor.
- At least a subset of the energy storage devices include a vibration energy harvesting device.
- At least a subset of the energy storage devices preferably include a radio isotope thermal generator.
- At least a subset of the energy storage devices include a thermoelectric generation device.
- the standalone device is selected from the group including: a space satellite; a space craft other than a satellite; an aircraft; a drone; a watercraft; an earthbound vehicle; and a wearable system.
- the each input receives the source energy at a respective first DC voltage and the respective control units draw the output energy such that it is provided to the common rail at a second DC voltage.
- the first DC voltages are different to the second DC voltage.
- the first DC voltages are always different to the second DC voltage.
- the converter units includes a boost function and the first DC voltages are lower than the second DC voltage.
- the power supply includes a controller for controlling at least one of the control units.
- the controller preferably controls all of the control units.
- the controller individually controls all of the control units.
- the controller controls at least one of the control units to regulate the output energy supplied to the common rail.
- the controller controls at least one of the control units to regulate the output energy supplied to the common rail by the respective power supply units.
- the controller controls at least one of the control units by selectively connecting and disconnecting the respective outputs to and from the common rail.
- the controller controls at least one of the control units by selectively activating and deactivating the respective control units.
- the plurality of sub-sources include at least two different power sources.
- At least one of the control units obtains operational data for the respective power supply unit.
- the operational data is derived from one or more characteristics of the source energy and/or the output energy.
- At least one of the control units selectively transmits the operational data.
- control unit transmits the operational data wirelessly to a base station.
- the controller includes the base station.
- the power supply units are modular.
- the energy source is intermittent.
- the energy source includes a plurality of sub-sources, all of which are intermittent.
- each input is configured to receive source energy from a respective sub-source.
- a power supply for supplying electrical energy to a load including a plurality of power supply units, wherein each unit includes:
- an input for connecting to and drawing energy from an intermittent energy source for connecting to the load; an energy storage device; a charging unit for selectively connecting the energy storage device to the input to draw energy from the energy source; and a switching unit for selectively connecting the energy storage device to the output to supply electrical energy to the load.
- the energy source includes a plurality of sub- sources and the input for each unit is connected with a respective one of the sub sources
- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a modular power supply
- Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a modular power supply
- Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a single modular power supply unit
- Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a modular power supply
- Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a modular power supply
- Figure 6 is a perspective view of a front face of a power generator.
- Figure 7 is a perspective view of a rear face of a power generator.
- a modular power supply 1 for a standalone device in the form of a CubeSat satellite 2.
- Power supply 1 has a common 28 Volt DC power rail 3 for connecting to an electrical load 4 presented by the relevant components of satellite 2.
- Supply 1 also includes a plurality of modular power supply units 5 that operate in parallel.
- Units 5 include respective DC inputs 6 for receiving source energy directly from an energy source in the form of respective independent photovoltaic panels 7.
- An output 9 of each of units 5 provides output energy to rail 3.
- supply 1 includes eight separate units 5 that receive the source energy from respective panels 7 that are located on the exterior of satellite 2 at different locations and having differing orientations. In other embodiments a different number of units 5 are included. Preferably, the number of units 5 corresponds with the number of panels 7 to provide maximum redundancy and adequate supply of the source energy. However, in further embodiments the number of units 5 exceeds the number of panels 7. In still further embodiments, the number of units 5 is less than the number of panels 7.
- Units 5 are modular in that they are substantially identical and swappable with each other. In further embodiments use is made of a plurality of power supply units that are not modular, or which include a subset which is modular and a subset which is not.
- a power supply 13 further includes a common battery bus 11 which can be used for selectively powering the most critical functions of the system when total functionality is not required. This may occur when operating in a standby mode, when available energy is low, for isolating critical functionality from cascading failures in the rest of the system or for battery current sharing and charging between units 5.
- a common battery bus 11 which can be used for selectively powering the most critical functions of the system when total functionality is not required. This may occur when operating in a standby mode, when available energy is low, for isolating critical functionality from cascading failures in the rest of the system or for battery current sharing and charging between units 5.
- unit 5 includes an output 12 for electrically connecting with bus 1 1 .
- Unit 5 also includes an energy storage device, in the form of a single cell 4.2 Volt 1000 mAh lithium battery 15.
- the output energy, which is supplied to rail 3, is then drawn from battery 15 via a boost converter unit 19 which receives energy/power from battery 15 at a first DC voltage VBatt - typically in the range of 3.0 Volts to 4.2 Volts - and delivers it to rail 3 at a second DC voltage VBUS which, in this embodiment, is highly regulated at 28 Volts. It will be appreciated that VBUS is highly regulated to 28 V DC to provide stability of operation for load 4.
- VBUS is provided at a voltage other than 28 Volts.
- each of units 5 has a plurality of outputs 9 for providing a corresponding plurality of regulated voltages of different values to respective power rails.
- VBUS is unregulated.
- converter 19 is substituted with another type of converter, for example a buck converter or a boost/buck converter to accommodate different operational voltages at input 6 and rail 3.
- another type of converter for example a buck converter or a boost/buck converter to accommodate different operational voltages at input 6 and rail 3.
- Unit 5 also includes a heater 20 that draws energy from battery 15 for maintaining battery 15 in an operable temperature range should the ambient temperature drop to sufficiently low levels.
- Unit 5 also includes a protection system 21 which, in this embodiment, comprises two resettable fuses 23 and 24 for outputs 9 and 12 respectively.
- a protection system 21 which, in this embodiment, comprises two resettable fuses 23 and 24 for outputs 9 and 12 respectively.
- alternative or additional components are included in system 21 to provide different or additional protection functions.
- system 21 includes a protection device (not shown) at input 6 and/or between battery 15 and either or both of unit 19 and heater 20.
- battery 15 is substituted with an alternative energy storage device or combination of energy storage devices.
- an alternative energy storage device or combination of energy storage devices For example, in one such embodiment use is made of a bank of tantalum capacitors. In another embodiment, use is made of one or more supercapacitors, while in a further embodiment use is made of a hybrid energy storage device. In further embodiments use is made of an electrochemical storage device other than that based upon lithium polymer chemistry and with a different number of cells. It will be appreciated that combinations of such devices are also able to be used to provide the required energy and power density dictated by the requirements of load 4.
- the architecture of power supply 5 is such as to offer redundancy between the supply of the source energy and the output energy. That is, there are a number of paths between the generation of the source energy and the supply of the output energy to the common rail 3, each of which includes an energy storage device such as battery 15.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of a modular power supply, being power supply 29, where corresponding features are denoted by corresponding reference numerals.
- supply 29 includes a plurality of power supply units 30 which provide base-level functionality similar to that of units 5.
- Units 30 each include a monitoring and control unit (discussed below) for generating data signals in the form of serial data.
- a controller 31 receives the serial data from units 30 via serial data links 32 (represented by broken lines).
- the serial data is indicative of: operational data from individual units 30 relating to the energy being received from the respective power sources (not shown); the energy stored in the energy storage device included in each unit 30; and the power delivered to common DC rail 3 for consumption by load 4.
- links 32 transmit the data other than as a serial signal.
- Controller 31 is further configured to transmit control signals to units 30 to allow the independent control of those units to conform to an optimised operation of supply 29. These control signals are able to be communicated via links 32 or by other communications paths.
- one of the control signals is a power toggle signal that is transmitted through a separate communications link 35 to enable or disable individual units 30. When a given unit 30 is enabled, it supplies power to rail 3 and when a given unit 30 is disabled it does not supply power to rail 3.
- controller 31 is responsive to the operational data received by links 32 for determining if the power toggle signal is required for each unit 30.
- links 32 and 35 are wired communications links.
- links 32 and 35 are wireless links.
- links 32 and 35 are, in some embodiments, the same, in that one link provides for two-way communications between controller 31 and unit 30.
- controller 31 in some embodiments, communicates with different units 30 via different links.
- units 30 and controller 31 are in a daisy chained network.
- control unit 17 of unit 30 includes a monitoring and control unit 37 and an output switch 38.
- Switch 38 is configured to receive the power toggle signal from controller 31 through link 35 and to selectively connect battery 15 to rail 3 based on the power toggle signal.
- the power toggle signal allows controller 31 to remotely enable or disable individual units 30 independently of each other.
- the power toggle signal is not independently addressable to individual units 30.
- This function is of greater utility, for example, for those satellites having a plurality of power supplies according to embodiments of the invention. That is, each of the power supplies is able to be toggled independently between an enabled and disabled state.
- controller 31 cooperates with all the power supplies to allow this functionality.
- each power supply includes its own controller 31. In some embodiments use is made of a master controller (not shown) for communicating with the individual controllers 31 for providing overall control of the operation of the individual power supplies.
- Unit 37 is configured to collect operational data from unit 30 by monitoring the electrical energy flowing into input 6, into battery 15 and out of unit 19 via monitoring lines 39, 40 and 41 respectively. Unit 37 is further configured to communicate the operational data to controller 31 via a serial data link 32. It will be appreciated that the operational data allows controller 31 to determine the energy being received from the respective power sources (not shown); the energy stored in each unit 30; and the power delivered to common DC rail 3 by each unit 30. It will also be appreciated that in embodiments of power supply 29 where more than one storage technology is used for storage units 15, that controllers 37 and controller 31 can be configured to work cooperatively to maximise the cycle life of each unit 5 for the particular storage technology of that unit 5.
- one embodiment contains both supercapacitors and Lithium-Ion batteries as energy storage devices.
- Unit 37 is further configured to operate heater 16 to maintain the battery temperature within a specified operational range by cycling the operational state of the heater 16. By cycling the operation state of the heater rather than operating the heater constantly, minimal power is used to control the temperature within a small, specific range, optimised for best performance of the battery.
- Unit 42 is generally prismatic in form and includes a substantially planar front face 43 to which a solar panel 44 is mounted.
- Panel 44 includes an array of individual photovoltaic (PV) cells, which in this embodiment is exemplarily illustrated as being a 3 x 4 array of cells grouped in connected triplets that provide four separate and independent supplies of source energy.
- PV photovoltaic
- use is made of a different number of arrays, or cells within an array.
- the cells may be angled to increase density and maximise the energy collection area.
- Unit 42 also includes a substantially planar rear face 45 upon which is mounted a modular power supply 46 having four power supply units (not shown) for receiving the source energy from the respective triplets referred to above.
- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the front side of generator 42 illustrating panel 44.
- Figure 7 provides a perspective view of the rear of generator 42 where supply 46 is mounted.
- Power supply 46 is able in other embodiments to represent any one of power supplies 1 , 13 and 29. It will be appreciated that generator 42 is capable of functioning as a standalone power generator for mounting to any platform, such as a CubeSat satellite.
- the front face 43 and rear face 45 represent opposed faces of a single printed circuit board (PCB) such that generator 42 is produced as a unitary device.
- PCB printed circuit board
- the power supplies receive the source energy as direct current (DC) electrical energy and store and provide energy to load 4 also in a DC form. This is done to minimise conversion losses and, all else being equal, reduce the weight and size of the circuitry required to construct the power supply.
- DC direct current
- units 5 and 30 are configured to convert between DC and AC forms of electrical energy.
- the power source is illustrated above as an array of panels 7. That is, the source includes a plurality of sub-sources, wherein each of the sub-sources is connected to a corresponding input 6 of a respective unit 5 or 30.
- the exemplary embodiments described above utilise solar panels as the sub-sources, it will be appreciated that any suitable power source is able to be used, and not all the sub- sources need be the same.
- Other embodiments include different power sources and sub-sources, such as a vibration energy harvesting device, a radio isotope thermal generator, a thermoelectric generation device, a fuel cell, a wave generator, a wind generator and any other device capable of generating electric power. It is also possible that different units 5 or 30 in the same power supply utilise different power sources. This allows the power supplies of the embodiments to be able to generate power from a diverse range of sources.
- the power supplies of the above embodiments are able to be designed to include a predetermined degree of redundancy, allowing for the overall reliability of the system to be finetuned and optimised for the given application. That is, if one or more of the batteries fails, the system as a whole will still be able to store and supply a usable amount of power onto bus 11 and rail 3, allowing the electronics of the satellite or other platform to continue functioning. These power supplies are therefore far more tolerant to component failure when compared with the conventional topology and hence allow for increased operational lifetime of the remote electronic devices which they power.
- a mobile platform includes two or more such power supplies in combination to supply the required power.
- the two or more supplies function independently of each other, while in other embodiments the power supplies are centrally controlled by a controller analogous to the controller 31 of supply 29.
- the latter also includes a controller that allows, at least during one mode of operation, the independent operation of the power supplies.
- controller 31 of power supply 29 is configured to detect faulty modular units 30 via the operation data received from the respective monitoring and control units 37. In response to the detection of a faulty module 30, controller 31 is configured to switch the power source 7 connected to the faulty module 30 to another module 30 in which no fault has been detected. In this way, the power source 7 will be able to provide power to the supply 29 even though the module to which it was connected has failed. For example, if the battery 15 of a first module 30 fails, such that the first module 30 no longer stores energy, controller 31 will connect a first power source 7 of the first unit 30 to the input 6 of a second unit 30.
- An additional benefit of the power supplies of the above embodiments is that significant increases in efficiency are able to be realised over conventional power supply topologies.
- the solar panels in the array are connected together to provide a single source of electrical energy to a charging controller.
- this topology requires the use of isolation diodes, or some other combination of semiconductors ensuring unidirectional current flow, for each panel to prevent those panels from becoming energy sinks when not in operation or when a sufficient voltage difference between the individual panels exists. That is, the isolation diodes are used to prevent the battery or other solar panels from pushing electric energy into non-operational or low voltage panels.
- the power supplies in the above embodiments include a plurality of independent solar panels or solar panel arrays, each connected to a respective power supply unit with a dedicated charging controller 18 and battery 15.
- the power supply units include a plurality of independent solar panels or solar panel arrays, each connected to a respective power supply unit with a dedicated charging controller 18 and battery 15.
- the shaded panel will be able to provide source energy to the relevant one of the power supply units that it is connected to and allow charging of the respective battery 15 in that unit.
- the charging of that battery 15 will be at a reduced rate compared to the corresponding batteries in those power supply units connected to better performing panels, it is still storing energy from that underperforming solar panel or solar panel array. This presents a clear improvement in efficiency compared to the traditional topology which would not be able to store the energy generated by the underperforming panel.
- a further consequence of this is that the power supply as a whole, when supplied by solar panels, is less affected by orientation.
- the efficiency of conventional solar array power supplies suffer when light of differing intensity falls on different parts of the array. Such a situation frequently occurs on land- based moving platforms or vehicles which constantly change their orientation and position with respect to the sun and other environmental objects (which may reflect or block light).
- the power supply 1 , 13 or 29 is far less sensitive to receiving varied light intensity across the solar panel array. Accordingly, the power supply as a whole is less sensitive to changes in orientation and hence better suited to mobile applications.
- the solar panel array is connected to a charging controller which includes a maximum power point (MPPT) tracker.
- MPPT holds the solar panel array at or near its maximum power point voltage allowing for an efficient transfer of power from the array. It is an important distinction however that the MPPT will hold the array at the maximum power point for the array, which is not necessarily the maximum power point of each of the individual panels in that array. Therefore it is likely that the individual panels in the array will not be operating at their maximum power point and hence not delivering power efficiently.
- each power supply unit includes a dedicated charging controller 18 which is able to utilise a maximum power point for the panel or panel array connected to that power supply unit. By utilising the appropriate maximum power point, all of the solar panels are able to be operated at or close to their maximum power point voltage thereby further increasing efficiency of the overall system in comparison to conventional topologies.
- power supply 29 is used as a communication relay.
- communication signals are able to be transmitted to the power supply via modulated optical signals such as a modulated laser beam.
- the modulated laser beam is directed toward a receiving solar panel connected to the power supply, causing a corresponding modulated signal in the electric power received at input 6 of unit 30 connected to the receiving solar panel.
- Monitoring and control unit 37 detects the modulated electrical signal via monitoring line 39. The detected signal is then relayed onward toward a target location.
- the signal is able to be first transmitted to system controller 31 before being transmitted to a target location or monitoring and control unit 37 is able to be configured to directly transmit to the target location.
- power supply 29 is able to be used as a target for communications, or as a communication relay.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB2017666.5A GB2587953A (en) | 2018-04-30 | 2019-04-30 | A power supply |
AU2019262087A AU2019262087A1 (en) | 2018-04-30 | 2019-04-30 | A power supply |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2018901439 | 2018-04-30 | ||
AU2018901439A AU2018901439A0 (en) | 2018-04-30 | A power supply |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2019210358A1 true WO2019210358A1 (en) | 2019-11-07 |
Family
ID=68386915
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/AU2019/050388 WO2019210358A1 (en) | 2018-04-30 | 2019-04-30 | A power supply |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU2019262087A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2587953A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2019210358A1 (en) |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150200311A1 (en) * | 2014-01-14 | 2015-07-16 | International Business Machines Corporation | Monolithically integrated thin-film device with a solar cell, an integrated battery, and a controller |
US20160190812A1 (en) * | 2014-11-24 | 2016-06-30 | Ming Solar, Inc | Solar modular power system |
-
2019
- 2019-04-30 AU AU2019262087A patent/AU2019262087A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2019-04-30 GB GB2017666.5A patent/GB2587953A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2019-04-30 WO PCT/AU2019/050388 patent/WO2019210358A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150200311A1 (en) * | 2014-01-14 | 2015-07-16 | International Business Machines Corporation | Monolithically integrated thin-film device with a solar cell, an integrated battery, and a controller |
US20160190812A1 (en) * | 2014-11-24 | 2016-06-30 | Ming Solar, Inc | Solar modular power system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2587953A (en) | 2021-04-14 |
AU2019262087A1 (en) | 2020-11-19 |
GB202017666D0 (en) | 2020-12-23 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US9862502B2 (en) | Electric power supply system having active power control device | |
CN111181238B (en) | DET power supply system of satellite | |
KR102479719B1 (en) | System and Method for Controlling Battery | |
KR101649081B1 (en) | Dynamically reconfigurable photovoltaic system | |
US6049190A (en) | Spacecraft power system | |
US8866465B2 (en) | Nanosatellite photovoltaic regulator | |
US20120306266A1 (en) | Power supply system and electric vehicle | |
US6396167B1 (en) | Power distribution system | |
US6369545B1 (en) | Neural network controlled power distribution element | |
US6181115B1 (en) | Device for generating electrical energy for a power supply bus | |
Lashab et al. | Space microgrids: New concepts on electric power systems for satellites | |
CN211468826U (en) | Dynamic power system suitable for multi-load satellite | |
CN113675934A (en) | Modularized satellite power supply system | |
Kompella et al. | Parallel operation of battery chargers in small satellite electrical power systems | |
US10389134B2 (en) | Electrical power distribution system and method | |
Yaqoob et al. | Self-directed energy management system for an islanded cube satellite nanogrid | |
RU2476972C2 (en) | Method of feeding of load by direct current in autonomous electric power supply system of man-made sattelite | |
WO2019210358A1 (en) | A power supply | |
Edpuganti et al. | A novel EPS architecture for 1U/2U CubeSats with enhanced fault-tolerant capability | |
Padma et al. | MPPT and SEPIC based controller development for energy utilisation in cubesats | |
Kimura et al. | Development of the electronic power subsystem design for Tel-USat | |
CN112636444B (en) | Double-star combined spacecraft grid-connected power supply and distribution system with fully-regulated unified bus | |
Macellari et al. | On the Power System of the AMALIA moon rover | |
Wong et al. | The UoSAT-2 spacecraft power system | |
Bensaada et al. | Power system design and performance for low earth orbit spacecraft |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application |
Ref document number: 19796992 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 202017666 Country of ref document: GB Kind code of ref document: A Free format text: PCT FILING DATE = 20190430 |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 2019262087 Country of ref document: AU Date of ref document: 20190430 Kind code of ref document: A |
|
122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase |
Ref document number: 19796992 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |