Dynamic Real-Time Simulation Approach to Power Management Modelling for CubeSat Applications

Over the last decade, the use of small satellite technology has grown to such lengths that they have proven to be a viable solution for space science and exploration, rivaling traditional satellites. They are composed of a variety of subsystems: communication, on-board computer, attitude determination and control as well as an electronic power supply. Power is provided by solar panels mounted on each one of the CubeSat sides. Storage is used to supply power when the CubeSat solar panels are shaded by Earth’s shadow region, where sunlight is not readily available. Surface area limitations create a challenge for most CubeSats, reducing solar panel generation. This requires developing simulation models that can coordinate between, generation, storage and load consumption. As more components are added, execution time can become extensive, leading to slow simulation speed. A solution to this is the use of Real-Time (RT) simulators, which enable faster execution time. Herein, a RT simulation of a CubeSat power management system is presented. Power flow simulation results are obtained for a 2U CubeSat configuration operating at varying irradiance, temperature and load conditions.