Power electronics systems in satellites

In this chapter, the new progress of power electronics system in satellites is introduced. Since payloads in spacecraft are of various electrical characteristics demands, the power supply system of spacecraft is designed as an independent and adaptive system. The centralized power supply and distribution system of power conditioning unit (PCU) based on the architecture of sequential switching shunt regulator (S3R), sequential switching shunt series regulator (S4R), or their diversion has been widely used in spacecraft. High efficiency, wide-voltage range, and high-dynamic response have become the most important elements of the space power supply. The electric propulsion (EP) has increasingly become the main configuration of the propulsion platform in spacecraft with ion thruster and stationary plasma thruster as the most used application. In the space power supply system, the module series and parallel technology can be reliable, fast and low-cost to complete the development of energy platform.