Power Electronics in Space Systems

The difficulties of generating and storing power in space provide a fertile ground for power electronics research. Design constaints such as weight, efficiency, and reliability consistently push power electronics research efforts to the limits of today's technology.

The primary sources of power and energy storage for satellites and space probes have included solar cells, fuel cells, thermoelectric nuclear power, batteries, and flywheels. In most cases these power sources provide little more than varying sources current into power systems that require fixed voltage supplies. It is the job of power electronics to turn raw power into a usable fixed voltage supply of energy.

Processing power from current sources such as solar cells, thermoelectric generators, and fuel cells requires a boost converter to transform input current at low voltage to a voltage appropriate for charging the on-board battery or flywheel storage system.

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