Multifunctional Power Structures for Spacecraft Applications

Paper number

IAC-06-C2.5.01

Author

Mr. Samuel Roberts, University of Southampton, United Kingdom

Coauthor

Dr. Guglielmo Aglietti, University of Southampton, United Kingdom

Year

2006

Abstract

Multifunctional structures offer savings in spacecraft mass and volume by combining the functional elements of subsystems with structural components. Batteries and their associated supporting elements contribute substantially to the mass of a spacecraft, and work has been published by various authors describing multifunctional structures that integrate electrochemical power storage systems.

However, the cost benefit of such technologies due to the reduction in mass and volume can be outweighed by the cost of the materials and processes required for their manufacture, especially for mini- or microsatellite missions. A compromise that takes advantage of some of the cost savings associated with multifunctional structures, whilst remaining relatively low in price, is to use conventional, commercial batteries, and integrate them into the structure. This eliminates the mass of inert parts of the power subsystem, and also allows the structural properties of the batteries to be harnessed.

The use of laminated lithium-ion polymer cells as part of a structural panel will be investigated. Li-ion polymer cells offer a large improvement in mass-specific performance over the nickel-based chemistries conventionally used in space applications, and laminated configuration allows the cells to be integrated simply into multifunctional structures. In this case, Varta PoLiFlex 300mAh cells make up part of the core of a carbon fibre composite sandwich panel, along with aluminium honeycomb. This makes use of the batteries’ structural properties and also removes their volume from the spacecraft bus to an area that would otherwise be filled with an inert material.

This paper describes the manufacturing process that produces these panels and the effect that manufacture has on the electrical performance of the cells. The dynamic structural performance of the panel will then be investigated, and compared to that of a conventional honeycomb panel.

Abstract document

IAC-06-C2.5.01.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-C2.5.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.