Analysis and Synthesis of Control Systems for Spacecraft Solar Arrays

• Main Authors: Anatoly K. Tishchenko, Eugeny M. Vasiljev, Artyom O. Tishchenko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-10-01
• Series: Machines
• Subjects: power supply of spacecraft; solar array control; homeostatic principles of survivability
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/8/4/64

The paper is devoted to the problem of creating highly reliable power supply systems for spacecrafts intended for long-term autonomous flights. Within its framework, the problem of synthesizing a control system for solar arrays is being solved. To solve this problem, a mathematical model of a solar panel was compiled, and a study of its static and dynamic characteristics was carried out. It was found that when the solar panel is controlled using a shunt switch with pulse-width modulation, resonance phenomena appear in the system, leading to an unacceptable change in the polarity of voltages on the photocells. The operating conditions of the solar panels, which exclude the occurrence of the indicated alternating voltages, are found, and appropriate recommendations are given for the choice of the quantization frequency in the system. On the basis of the recommendations received, the transition to a quasi-continuous representation of the control system was carried out, and a graphic-analytical synthesis of the controller providing the required quality indicators of the system was carried out. To ensure the survivability of the power supply system, a method is proposed for the hierarchical organization of the interaction of solar panels, which reproduces the homeostatic properties of biological structures in the system. This property is provided by automatic transfer of control to subsequent levels of the hierarchy as the energy resources of the previous levels are exhausted. In addition, selective control is applied only to that part of the total generated power, which is sufficient to counter the current disturbing influences on the system. This approach to control prevents cascading failures in the system. The paper presents simulation models on which all theoretical positions and methods proposed in the work are tested.