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Delta Development and qualification of PCU-EU

Objectives

Delta Development and qualification of PCU derived from PCU-NG qualified for the Spacebus platform in 2014 to address Export market demand, and in particular to their next generation of SATCOM platform, with a power capability around 20 kW.

Challenges

Following success of DFH4-PCU (27 FM delivered) unfortunately facing major obsolescence at several levels: components, technologies, manufacturing processes,…without speaking of the competitiveness aspect, it has been decided to develop new generation of PCU in order to stay in position to answer to the Chinese market demand, and in particular to their next generation of SATCOM platform, the DFH5 with a power capability around 20 kW.

Key challenges were to be able to address full Chinese market in term of power (21 kW max whereas old generation PCU is limited below 15 kW) with a reduced mass (-30%) and increased competitiveness.

Benefits

Max power of 21 kW, mass decrease by 30% and competitiveness increase.

Features

The main features or electrical characteristics of the PCU are  

  • Single fully regulated 100V bus
  •  Output power from 5.4 kW to 21.6 kW
  •  One or two Li-Ion batteries compatibility
  •  SUNLIGHT  modules  accommodates  S3R  sections,  part  of  the  bus capacitance, bus and SA connections
    • Redounded S3R concept: in any failure case, no loss of SA power is guaranteed.
    • High efficiency S3R cell
    • Modular bus connection
  •  BCDR module accommodates one 1.8kW BDR converter and one BCR of 2.3A charge capability
    • Hot redundancy: n+1 BCDR per battery
    • Associated BDR and BCR in one module
    • Battery isolation function performed by input switch
    • Modular battery connection
  •  TMTC modules ensures management of the TMs and TCs
    • Cold redundancy: 1N + 1R
    • 1553 bus interface

Plan

Development based on the design & development of a (partial) EM made of one module of each type, followed by PFM (out of ARTES contract).

Current status

PFM delivered to final customer for integration on satellite.  Qualification Review successfully held with ESA.

Prime Contractor

Status date

Thursday, January 17, 2019 - 14:54

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