Ponente
Descripción
The SEA Group (Power Supply Systems Group) has long-standing experience in power electronics and, since 2018, has been involved in several activities related to space power systems, collaborating with the European Space Agency (ESA) and other partners. Their work in recent years spans both component-level improvements and system-level studies aimed at adapting spacecraft power systems to evolving mission requirements.
Main contributions
Work on modular and fault-tolerant architectures:
The group has investigated ways to improve the reusability and robustness of power system building blocks. This includes the development of distributed DC transformers with inherent fault tolerance and automatic sharing capabilities, as well as participation in the design of a decentralized power system (with UC3M GSEP) where identical converters can perform different roles, reducing reliance on centralized control.
Studies on direct-drive propulsion:
The group has analyzed Direct Drive architectures for supplying Hall Effect Thrusters directly from solar arrays, with the goal of reducing conversion losses at system level. Their work focuses on evaluating impacts rather than only proposing specific implementations.
Energy management for lunar missions:
SEA has worked on control strategies for Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs), aiming to improve power extraction and facilitate their integration into hybrid RTG–solar systems. This is relevant for missions affected by long periods without solar energy, such as the lunar night.
Improvements in Latching Current Limiters (LCLs):
SEA has contributed to the evolution of LCLs—widely used in spacecraft for power distribution and protection—by exploring the use of wide-bandgap devices in linear designs and proposing a switching-based approach to address some limitations of conventional LCLs. These developments respond to the trend toward higher voltage and current levels, while remaining compliant with ESA standards.
Alternative isolation methods for power supplies:
SEA has also explored replacing optocouplers, which are sensitive to radiation, with magnetic-based isolation techniques suitable for integration using European components.
Overall perspective:
Rather than focusing on a single area, the SEA group’s recent activities reflect a broad involvement in different aspects of spacecraft power systems, combining incremental improvements of existing technologies with exploration of alternative architectures and approaches, typically within ESA-funded projects.