New architectures for space power systems

Electric power generation and conditioning have experienced revolutionary development over the past two decades. Furthermore, new materials such as high energy magnets and high temperature superconductors are either available or on the horizon. Our work is based on the premise that new technologies are an important driver of new power system concepts and architectures. This observation is borne out by the historical evolution of power systems both in terrestrial and aerospace applications. This paper introduces new approaches to designing space power systems by using several new technologies. Two new architectures are introduced: the current source current intensive system and the articulate system. Basic characteristics of these systems have been investigated. Some aspects of the articulate system architecture, as discussed in this paper can be implemented in the short term. Flexible AC transmission systems which are now undergoing rapid development and implementation, can be regarded as a subset of the family of control methodologies which constitute the realm of articulate systems     

Electric propulsion: fleet readiness at affordable costs

The successful development and demonstration of the Al-AgO primary battery system dramatically demonstrated the viability of electric power plants for torpedo propulsion. Present efforts are focused on the development and demonstration of very low cost, quiet, high performance, safe, environmentally compatible, rechargeable batteries for heavyweight and lightweight torpedoes and tactical-sized UUVs. Electric power plants consisting of a rechargeable battery and a high reliability motor must be affordable to own and operate and enable turn-around without teardown for today's Fleet assets     

Reliable electro-mechanical actuators in aircraft

There is a general trend in the aerospace industry toward increasing the use of electrically-powered equipment. This trend is usually referred to as "Power-by-Wire" in the "More Electric Aircraft" (MEA) concept and it leads, among others, to the substitution of hydraulic actuators by Electro-Mechanical Actuators (EMA). Its benefits are a decrease in maintenance effort and weight, and an increase in efficiency. However, jamming case obstacles stop the massive use of EMAs in flight-control actuators. The aim herein is to introduce the safety needs of electro-mechanical actuators in aircraft applications, and Its major goal is to present the suitability and reliability of such actuator systems, including electric motors and power converters.     

Radioisotope powered AMTEC systems

Alkali Metal Thermal to Electric Converter (AMTEC) systems are being developed for high performance spacecraft power systems, including small, General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) powered systems. Several design concepts have been evaluated for the power range from 75 W to 1 kW. The specific power for these concepts has been found to be as high as 18-20 W/kg and 22 kW/m³. The projected area, including radiators, has been as low as 0.4 m²/kW. AMTEC power systems are extremely attractive, relative to other current and projected power systems, because AMTEC offers high power density, low projected area, and low volume. Two AMTEC cell design types have been identified. A single-tube cell is already under development and a multi-tube cell design, to provide additional power system gains, has undergone proof-of-principle testing. Solar powered AMTEC (SAMTEC) systems are also being developed, and numerous terrestrial applications have been identified for which the same basic AMTEC cells being developed for radioisotope systems are also suitable     

复合材料电搭接分析

电搭接是指用金属编织线或金属片将机载设备的外壳与飞机基本结构连接起来,使两者处于一个共同的电位点。飞机上采用复合材料后,由于复合材料与金属之间电性能的差异,在GJB358-87中规定的搭接电阻值就不完全适用。本文在研究了大量国内外资料的基础上,根据国内目前的技术水平,对安装在复合材料结构上的机载设备,按不同的电搭接功能要求,提出了合适的搭接电阻值。     

Potential starter/generator technologies for future aerospaceapplications

This paper presents a search and comparative review of the literature available on variable speed constant frequency (VSCF) technologies. In particular, most of the progress made in the past ten years, using power electronics and electric machines for VSCF systems, is reported. Two VSCF systems, based on induction and switched reluctance machine technologies are presented. The research on the singly- and doubly-fed induction machines has focused on VSCF for wind power generation, whereas that on switched reluctance machines has been directly studied as a VSCF technology in aircraft systems. Results obtained so far favor the switched reluctance machine over the induction machine. Based on the foregoing comparative review, it is recommended that the induction machine be fully investigated as a VSCF drive for aircraft systems. The findings should then be compared with the counterpart SRM system. Issues of comparison may include fault tolerance and redundancy, power density, torque requirements, overload ratings, temperature range and cooling, efficiency and stability over expected operating speed range     

Batteries vs. alternatives for storing energy

Electric utilities need quickly-available sources of power for supplying expected and unexpected peak loads. Among useful sources have been the energy stored in water by pumping it to elevated storage reservoirs, in air compressed into underground chambers, and in batteries. A new power source, tBase-load nuclear and coal-fired steam plants generate off-peak energy for recharging the depleted storage facility. The aero-derived gas turbine, challenges the economics of these traditional energy-storage means. These turbines have been designed for aircraft where quick startup, rapid change in output power, and high reliability are essential. With a 1426°C (2600°F) turbine inlet temperature the available efficiencies are 42% in simple-cycle operation and 60% in a combined-cycle power plant. A recent 84-MW natural-gas-burning peak-power plant cost $204 per kW. Pacific Gas and Electric's Helmes River pumped-hydro plant had cost $656 per kW. The combined-cycle gas turbine plants, with their low manpower requirements, are producing power that costs less than power from nuclear power plants. We examine the performance and economics available from these new power sources     

Potential starter/generator technology for future aerospaceapplication

This paper presents a search and comparative review of the literature available on variable speed constant frequency (VSCF) technologies. In particular, most of the progress made in the past ten years, using power electronics and electric machines for VSCF systems is reported. Two VSCF systems, based on induction and switched reluctance machine technologies, are presented. The research on the singly- and doubly-fed induction machines has focused on VSCF for wind power generation; whereas, that on switched reluctance machines has been directly studied as a VSCF technology in aircraft system. Results obtained so far favor the switched reluctance machine over the induction machine. Based on the foregoing comparative review, it is recommended that the induction machine be fully investigated as a VSCF drive in aircraft system. The findings should then be compared with the counterpart SRM system. Issues of comparison may include fault tolerance and redundancy, power density, torque requirements, overload ratings, temperature range and cooling, efficiency and stability over expected operating speed range     

Higher Voltage Aircraft Power Systems

Modern aircraft designs are focused on minimising the use of engine bleed air, eliminating gearboxes, and reducing the reliance on hydraulic systems. Instead, many of these mechanical systems will be replaced with electrical versions. The increasing amounts of electrical power that will be shipped through an aircraft means that it is increasingly difficult to rely on low voltage power systems owing to voltage drop and weight constraints. This discusses the challenges that relate to the safe use of higher voltage systems within aircraft.     

Role of BIT in support system maintenance and availability

The role of built in test (BIT) in electronic systems has grown in prominence with the advances in system complexity and concern over maintenance lifecycle costs of large systems. In an environment where standards drive system designs (and provide an avenue for focused advancement in technology), standards for BIT are very much in an evolutionary state. The reasons for advancing the effectiveness of BIT include reduced support overhead, greater, confidence in operation, and increased system availability. The cost of supporting military electronic systems (avionics, communications, and weapons systems) has driven much of the development in BIT technology. But what about the systems that support these end items that contain test and measurement instrumentation - such as automatic test equipment (ATE), simulators and avionics development suites? There has also been a beneficial effect on the maintenance and availability of these systems due to the infusion of BIT into their component assemblies. But the effect has been much more sporadic and fragmented. This paper looks at the state of BIT in test and measurement instruments, explain its affect on system readiness, and present ideas on how to improve BIT technologies and standards. This will not provide definitive answers to BIT development questions, since the factors that affect it are specific to the instrument itself. The topics covered in this paper are: definitions of built-in test, instrument BIT history, importance of BIT fault coverage and isolation in support systems, overview of BIT development process issues that limit the effectiveness of BIT Standards related to instrument BIT, making BIT more effective in support system maintenance and availability and conclusions.     

POWOW: power without wires: a SEP concept for space exploration

Electric propulsion has emerged as a cost-effective solution to a wide range of satellite applications. Deep Space 1 successfully demonstrated electric propulsion as the primary propulsion source for a satellite. The POWOW concept is a solar-electric propelled spacecraft capable of significant cargo and short trip times for traveling to Mars. It would enter aerosynchronous orbit and from there, beam power to surface installations via lasers. The concept has been developed with industrial partner expertise in high efficiency solar cells, advanced concentrator modules, innovative arrays, and high power electric propulsion systems. The latest version of the spacecraft, the technologies used, and trip times to Mars are presented. The POWOW spacecraft is a general purpose solar electric propulsion system that uses new technologies that are directly applicable to commercial and government spacecraft with power levels ranging from a LEO power level of 4 kW up to GEO spacecraft about 1 MW. The system is modular, expandable, and amenable to learning curve cost projection methods     

Scaling of advanced power systems

Parts of a study conducted to examine state-of-the-art power systems applicable to future military spacecraft are summarized. The study focused on burst-mode megawatt-class CW power, such as might be applied to SDIO directed energy systems, but lower-power, continuous-duty subsystems were included in less detail. A set of simple mass and volume algorithms has been developed to approximate several prime systems, and these were incorporated into a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet. Among the power subsystems included in that study were primary batteries, alkaline primary fuel cells, and combustion turbogenerators. These systems, which are the most likely candidates for mobile battlefield power, are described     

多电飞机混合储能系统的设计与仿真

多电飞机直流配电系统是电功率传输的核心,由于涡轮电机的单向性,系统并不完全可逆。为了维持直流汇流条的稳定、提高能源效率,需建立相应的存储和消耗系统。研究了一种带有超级电容器的多电飞机储能系统,分析了该系统中超级电容器的作用及其控制策略,根据超级电容器本身的特性利用Matlab/Simulink软件建立相应仿真模型,并针对于飞机电网突加和突卸负载时电压不同状态设计了相应控制策略,通过仿真实验验证了带有超级电容器的混合储能系统的有效性。     

多电飞机高压直流并联供电系统发展现状与关键技术

多电飞机（MEA）逐步实现机载二次能源的统一,可有效提升飞机能源利用率。高压直流（HVDC）供电系统（EPS）从原理上更容易实现电源的并联运行,利于多发动机/多发电机布局下供电容量的扩展,并实现不中断供电,进一步提升系统的供电品质和鲁棒性。分析了高压直流供电系统的特点与优势,系统总结了高压直流并联供电系统的研究现状,在此基础上阐述了并联供电系统的关键技术和问题。提出并构建基于新型双凸极无刷直流发电机的双通道高压直流并联供电系统,实现了系统均流控制,完成高压直流并联供电时突加突卸负载、投入并联、退出并联等动态过程的实验验证。研究结果表明高压直流并联供电系统具有良好的稳态精度与动态性能,在多电乃至全电飞机（AEA）上有重要研究价值和应用潜力,其动态行为、建模方法和控制保护逻辑等问题值得进一步深入研究与实践。     

Electric space propulsion systems

Active development of electric thrustors began 10 years ago. Today, several kinds of thrustors have achieved efficiencies above 90 % and lifetimes of several thousand hours. The following article derives the basic theory of electric thrust production at constant exhaust velocity, and at variable exhaust velocity programmed for optimum vehicle performance. Electrothermal or arcjet; electrostatic or ion; and electrodynamic or plasma thrustors are described. At the present time, ion thrustors of the electron bombardment and of the surface ionization types are the most promising systems. Electric power in space may be generated by solar cells or nuclear-electric generators. It is expected that the incore thermionic converter will eventually be the preferred system. A variety of missions with electric propulsion systems appear feasible and highly desirable, among them orbital station keeping, attitude control, planetary probes, solar and out-of-the-ecliptic probes, deep-space probes, and manned Mars and Venus exploration. For each mission, a careful systems-design study must be made, which will provide the optimum selection of thrustor type, thrust level, exhaust velocity, thrust program, power source, trajectory, and flight plan.     

Nuclear Power Systems for Spacecraft

A review and comparison of the weights, sizes, and costs of nuclear and non-nuclear spacecraft power systems is presented and discussed. Nuclear power systems include the range below 10 kW, with an electrical output to weight ratio of 0.5 to 1.0 pounds per watt. Comparisons show that primary batteries are lighter for short-duration missions of a few hours; fuel cells are lighter for durations of one to two months; and solar-cell/secondary battery combinations are to be preferred when sunlight is adequate.     

中国电动飞机技术创新与实践观点

电动飞机极大地提高了飞机的环保性、舒适性、维修性和经济性，是航空工业未来的发展方向。电动飞机应具备高气动效率、高推进效率、高结构效率、高能量密度，以提高航时。"十三五"期间，中国已完成2机首飞，2机取证。"十四五"期间，电动飞机研发应该以高功率高效率电推进系统为研发重点，以混合电推进系列飞机为研发核心，以现有新能源型号全寿命保障体系研究为关键，以拓展新型电动飞行器研发和标准构建为目标。     

主字母体制调制系数的选择

针对靶场安全控制系统主字母体制中主字母信号的调制系数选取范围问题,对主字母信号经FM (Fre-quency Modulation,调频)调制后的功率进行理论分析,选取一组频率组成主字母信号调制到中频.通过仿真得到数据曲线.同时将仿真参数移植到与工程设备相似的实验设备上,使用频谱仪进行实际测试,以测试数据拟合出曲线,该曲线符合理论分析及仿真曲线,即理论分析、仿真与设备测试结果一致.可以得出结论,在主字母体制信号可解调的条件下,调制系数与主字母信号经FM调制后的功率的关系函数为对数函数,从而可为工程参数的选择提供参考范围,有利于工程应用.