Product Platform Based Modular Adaptive DC-DC Converters for Space Applications

An artificial satellite being designed for various applications needs large number of DC-DC converters with different specifications to meet various S/C subsystem demands. In a continuous spacecraft production line consisting of multiple Satellite missions per annum with minimum turnaround time, hundreds of power converters are needed to be realised.NASAhas identified Power distribution via DC-DC converters as one of the most critical and challenging components in the spacecraft in terms of design, manufacturing,and testing as they must meet widely varying user load profiles under different mission scenarios [1].Each high-powersatellite requires 40-50 DC-DC converters with different specification. This account to an annual requirement of around 600 power converter per annum under a 15-satellite regime and the demands are growing. A common problem for design, manufacturing and testing is to balance the need for complexity and variety of products with optimization of resources needed for their realization. To simplify the existing method of realisation, a major study has been carried out toanalyze different user load profiles whichhave traditionally been realized in a customized manner.To simplify and fast track the mission requirement, power conversion and distribution via modular adaptive DC-DC converters using a product platform-based approach has been envisaged.