Solar array tuning and spacecraft pointing system using flywheel energy storage with programmable voltage control

摘要

A satellite power regulation and pointing system is disclosed that comprises a power bus (104) and first and second flywheels (114-116) capable of storing rotational energy. Each flywheel (114-118) comprises a flywheel motor/generator (202) for increasing the rotational energy in its associated flywheel when storing power in its associated flywheel and for reducing the associated flywheel rotational energy when drawing power from its associated flywheel. The system also includes individual flywheel regulators (108-112) connected to the power bus (104) and to the flywheel motor/generators (202). Each flywheel regulator (108-112) includes a power control circuit (204) that allows power to flow to a flywheel motor/generator (202) from the power bus (104) during an energy storage period and that allows power to flow to the power bus (104) from the flywheel motor/generator (202) during an energy drawing period. The flywheel regulators (108-112) also include feedback control loops (206) connected to the power control circuits (204) and to the power bus (104). The feedback control loops (206) determine the energy storage period and the energy drawing period based upon a predetermined voltage reference (Vref) and a power bus voltage reference (207). IMAGE