Design and implementation of a power distribution system adopting overcurrent protection

Abstract

ABSTRACTOne of the most critical aspects of a small satellite is the electrical power system (EPS) since the electrical power is necessary for the satellite to operate correctly during its predefined lifetime. The electrical power system consists mainly of solar cells, batteries, voltage converters and protection circuits. The electrical power system is responsible of providing stable power to the rest of the satellite subsystems.In satellite electrical power systems, overcurrent protection is now becoming an important function handled by the power distribution module (PDM). This paper proposes a method to evaluate the suggested protection. With the proposed procedure we should be able to verify that every possible failure does not travel through the EPS and cause a fatal degradation of the electrical power system. This will allow a complete evaluation of functionality of the protection hardware.This paper discusses the design and implementation of the power distribution module (PDM) for the coming generation of small satellites for the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL). The design must provide a reliable protection for the subsystems from the overcurrent associated with a device failure.