High-Power High-Dynamic-Performance Space Solar Array Simulator Using Step-Wave Tracking Output Voltage Approach

With the power of high-orbit satellites now reaching dozens of kilowatts, solar energy sources play an important role in nonterrestrial applications. However, most of the existing high-power solar array simulators (SASs) are designed for simulating energy sources in terrestrial applications, and may not have suitable dynamic performance for nonterrestrial applications. This paper proposes a design for a high-power high-dynamic-performance space solar array simulator (SSAS) system, which combines a linear power stage unit and a multilevel bus tracking converter unit, in order to achieve a fast step-switching capability and high-power-handling capacity. In this paper, we consider the SSAS power system as two separate parts: the I–V power curve simulator that uses a linear power stage with 20 linear voltage-controlled current paths in parallel; and the multilevel bus tracking converter unit that provides the variable voltage levels tracking the SSAS output voltage, in order to decrease the power dissipation in the linear power stage. This paper establishes a mathematical model for the multilevel converter under this particular system architecture, and presents the application qualification conditions and system design principles. The proposed 2.4-kW SSAS can react quickly to a load step between the short-circuit and open-circuit states, which are the most challenging working conditions, at a stepping frequency of 3 kHz; this is a superior dynamic performance compared to other similar devices. The experimental results of testing the spacecraft power supply with a shunt regulator architecture demonstrating better performance, when compared to the results from four SAS modular products in parallel.