Introduction

The power distribution by Latching Current Limiters, or LCLs, has been widely used in almost all European satellites for some decades as an effective way to achieve a very controlled and reliable load connection and disconnection from the satellite main bus, including power management in case of overload and load short circuit failures.

Additionally, power distribution by LCLs minimises inrush current events due to load filters charging (see section 5.7.2.3), and for this reason effectively allows the reduction of the loads filters themselves.

On the other side power distribution by LCLs has always been matter of “local” discussion and review, while no attempt has been done so far to collect all the available information in a congruent and explanatory handbook and to allow a product-oriented specification as presently done with ECSS‑E‑ST‑20‑20.

This handbook complements ECSS‑E‑ST‑20‑20, and it is directed at the same time to power system engineers, who are specifying and procuring units containing LCLs for power distribution and protection, and to power electronics design engineers, who are in charge of designing and verifying power distribution by LCLs.

For the system engineers, this document explains the detailed issues at circuit level and the impacts of the requirements for the design of LCLs.

For design engineers, this document gives insight and understanding on the rationales of the requirements on their designs.

It is important to notice that the best understanding of the topic of Power Distribution based by LCLs is achieved by the contextual reading of both the present handbook and the ECSS‑E‑ST‑20‑20.

Note that the present issue of the handbook covers electrical design and interface requirements for power distribution based on Latching Current Limiters only.

Future issues of the present handbook will cover additional power interfaces.

PD CEN/TR 17603-20-20:2022

Space engineering. Guidelines for electrical design and interface requirements for power supply

Current

Published:

31 May 2022