Solar Power Generation System for the Canadian Space Agency STRATOS Program

• Main Authors: Doulfikar Amine, Cabales Ian, Hossan Akash, Bloemink Jeff, Taheri Pooya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2021-01-01
• Series: E3S Web of Conferences
• Subjects: mppt controller; solar power generation; stratos; canadian space agency; stratospheric balloon; aerospace
• Online Access: https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2021/15/e3sconf_icren2021_00006.pdf

This paper discusses the design and application of solar photovoltaics (PV) under aerospace conditions. The application of solar PV that is addressed is the Power Distribution Unit (PDU) for the Canadian Space Agency’s (CSA) stratospheric balloon (STRATOS) program. The PDU utilizes four 1 kWh Battery Unit (BUs) that have been sized with volume and weight restrictions in mind. Without the capacity to provide enough energy to support multi-day missions, they are thus supplemented by the solar power generation subsystem presented in this paper. The power generation sub-system includes a bespoke solar panel design and a centralized Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) power conversion unit to maximize the power output of solar panels. The centralized unit can accommodate up to eight solar panels, each consisting of nine individual C60 SunPower solar cells. The centralized MPPT unit consists of two MPPT controllers, each controller supporting up to four solar panels. The MPPT unit is modular and can be easily integrated to the CSA’s existing intelligent Battery Management System (BMS).