Agence Spatiale Europeenne

Ferdinando Tonicello

Olivier Mourra

Leticia Busto Llavona

A solar array system includes at least one solar array and at least one solar array regulator. The solar array regulator has an input port to be connected to the solar array, and an output port to be connected to a power bus. The solar array comprises a switching voltage converter comprising a step-down (PC) and a step-up (PC) power cell connected in cascade; and a control circuit for driving said voltage converter in a step-up, a step-down or a direct energy transfer mode, depending on an input control signal and on at least one feedback signal (S) indicative of an operating condition of said switching voltage converter; characterized in that said at least one feedback signal (S) is indicative of an intensity of an electrical current (I) flowing between said step-down and said step-up power cells, whereby the control circuit implements an internal current feedback control.

Solar array regulator based on step-up and down conversion and solar power system comprising the same

A sequential switching shunt regulator cell comprising: a power line (PL) for connecting a power source (SA) to a power bus (PB); a shunting (SSW) switch for shunting said power line; and driving means (DM) for opening or closing said shunting switch depending on an error signal (MEA) indicative of a voltage level of said power bus; characterized in that it also comprises: a non-redundant rectifier (D) connected in series to said power line for disconnecting the power bus from the shunting switch when the latter is closed; and a fault detector (FD) for detecting a short-circuit fault condition of said non-redundant rectifier, and for opening the shunting switch in reply to said condition. Advantageously, the rectifier can be a synchronous rectifier. A solar power regulator comprising a plurality of solar arrays connected to a power bus through respective sequential switching shunt regulator cells of the kind described above.

Sequential switching shunt regulator cell with non-redundant rectifier

A control device for voltage regulation of a power supply bus, including a first switch adapted, when in a closed position, to connect an electrical energy generator to an energy storage device, and a second switch adapted, when in a closed position, to short-circuit said generator, said generator being connected to said power supply bus if said first and second switches are in an open position, which control device further including first means for generating a signal for controlling said first switch and second means for generating a signal for controlling said first switch, said first and second means for generating a signal for controlling said first and second switches, respectively, being separate means operating independently of each other.

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Leiden, Netherlands

Ferdinando Tonicello