Design and analysis of the DelFFi solar energy supply

Design and analysis of the DelFFi solar energy supply

Lopez Telgie, A.I.

Bouwmeester, J. (mentor)

Aerospace Engineering

Space Systems Engineerong

2014-07-23

The present thesis deals with the design and analysis of the solar energy supply for the DelFFi nano-satellites. The DelFFi project is parts of the QB50 mission, led by VKI, that intends to launch 50 CubeSat to 350-400[km] altitude in 2016, to carry in situ research in the lower thermosphere. This kind of research has never been done in the past, nor envisioned in the future. Hence, unique challenges are faced by the participating teams. The research was divided into three parts. Part I deals with research a photovoltaic and semiconductors theories, which lead to the understanding of the solar cells working principles. It was followed by an assessment of the available hardware useful for the DelFFi design. Part II deals with Launch and Early Operations of Delfi-n3Xt, predecessor or DelFFi launch on November 21st, 2013, as well as telemetry analysis of the EPS. This lead to lessons learned that could are used in Part III which synthesizes the previous and includes a proposed design of the DelFFi power subsystems. This includes the EPS board and Battery selection, as well as a detailed layout of the solar cells within the panels of the proposed deployment configuration. The later, was used to assess the available power for satellite operations through a model using ESATAN-TMS and Microsoft Excel. Based on the available hardware, and follow up analysis, solar cells assemblies as well as a COTS EPS board and Battery pack have been selected and price quotes are available for procurement. The LEOPS experience as well as the detailed documentation review and analysis, done for Delfi-n3xt, lead to several lessons learned which are employed in the proposed design for DelFFi. The key ones are not relying on the ADCS for the power performance, which lead to a satellite with cell on every face possible as well as double sided deployable panels; a operational balance of the power budget through duty cycling of the subsystems in different operational modes; and a design which increases the overall EPS efficiency from ~63% on Delfi-n3Xt to ~70% on DelFFi. Over the last months an almost full life cycle in a satellite mission has been experience: design, launch, operations, and selection of components. The proposed design remains to be manufacture once the selected hardware arrives on site, and further testing will improve the accuracy of the model used for assessing the available power. The proposed solar energy supply system is and improvement of the one on its predecessor with increased efficiency and design for a mission in a very particular region of the Atmosphere, which will deliver new science returns.

DelFFi
EPS
DelfiSpace

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8bab122b-b5aa-41c5-b3f4-d23b43da3781

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2014 Lopez Telgie, A.I.