[amsat-bb] Re: Future radical satellite designs

[Joe Leikhim]

The difference in my proposal is that instead of a series string, each 
solar cell/battery assembly have its own boost convertor/regulator to 
charge a common bus to a higher operating voltage. That way, a failure 
or depletion a small number of batteries will affect only the available 
bus current, not the bus voltage.

Robert Bruninga wrote:

>>Why not construct clusters of  low voltage 
>>batteries each with their own set of solar 
>>cells. ... The solar cells could then be placed 
>>on all sides of the spacecraft and 
>>charge their associated batteries at will...
>>    
>>
>
>Yes, this was our design back in the mid 90's for a tiny
>softball sized satellite.  A single NiCd per side with a magnet
>for tumble and radiative B/W paint for spin to assure even
>illumination.  Each cell was charged by itself, and the series
>string was used to power the spacecraft (6 times 1.2v) to give a
>nice 7.2/8.4v bus.
>
>It solves the number one problem of spaceccraft batteries, that
>is, charging and discharging in series.  Also, no inefficiences
>of boost inverters.. Penalty was that cells had to have larger
>capacities because each one would see less charge time.
>
>Bob, WB4APR
>
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>
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-- 
Joe Leikhim K4SAT
"The RFI-EMI-GUY"©

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

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