Scientists of Novosibirsk State Technical University NETI together with Reshetnyov Information Satellite Systems JSC developed and patented electric energy converter for power supply systems of aerospace vehicles, allowing to reduce the weight of the power supply system, thereby increasing the economic efficiency of the vehicles.
The patented converter outperforms the existing system because it is multiport. The converter combines two inputs for electrical energy sources – a solar panel and a battery – and one output. Whereas current aircraft use two or three separate inverters.
“The main advantage of the device is its high power density, which is critical for aviation and space technology. Reducing the weight of the converter while increasing its power allows increasing the payload of the aircraft, which, of course, gives economic benefits of operation and launch into orbit,” said Dmitry Shtein, senior lecturer at the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering of NSTU NETI.
The power supply system takes up a lot of spacecraft space, and optimizing its weight is an urgent problem. The inverter of NSTU NETI scientists makes it possible to lighten the power supply system of a satellite by 20-25%, which plus the economic benefit makes it possible to use the freed space for scientific equipment or life support systems.
“You have to understand that the battery has to be recharged. To do this, another converter is often put in – a battery charger. Our converter is capable of replacing all three of these devices,” said Dmitry Stein.
At the moment the scientists are continuing to improve the system: the ground mockup is being tested, work is going on to improve the reliability of the device. It is planned to get a working prototype in the near future.
In 2021 the development received a gold medal at the XXIV Moscow International Salon of Inventions and Innovation Technologies “Archimedes 2021”.
Scientists of Novosibirsk State Technical University NETI together with Reshetnyov Information Satellite Systems JSC developed and patented electric energy converter for power supply systems of aerospace vehicles, allowing to reduce the weight of the power supply system, thereby increasing the economic efficiency of the vehicles.
The patented converter outperforms the existing system because it is multiport. The converter combines two inputs for electrical energy sources – a solar panel and a battery – and one output. Whereas current aircraft use two or three separate inverters.
“The main advantage of the device is its high power density, which is critical for aviation and space technology. Reducing the weight of the converter while increasing its power allows increasing the payload of the aircraft, which, of course, gives economic benefits of operation and launch into orbit,” said Dmitry Shtein, senior lecturer at the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering of NSTU NETI.
The power supply system takes up a lot of spacecraft space, and optimizing its weight is an urgent problem. The inverter of NSTU NETI scientists makes it possible to lighten the power supply system of a satellite by 20-25%, which plus the economic benefit makes it possible to use the freed space for scientific equipment or life support systems.
“You have to understand that the battery has to be recharged. To do this, another converter is often put in – a battery charger. Our converter is capable of replacing all three of these devices,” said Dmitry Stein.
At the moment the scientists are continuing to improve the system: the ground mockup is being tested, work is going on to improve the reliability of the device. It is planned to get a working prototype in the near future.
In 2021 the development received a gold medal at the XXIV Moscow International Salon of Inventions and Innovation Technologies “Archimedes 2021”.
