Evaluation of Solar Array Peak Power Tracking Technologies for CubeSats

Abstract

The increasing complexity and capability of small satellite missions is placing more stringent requirements on spacecraft power systems. Higher power demands are usually met with deployable solar panels and platforms that require attitude determination and control systems which add mass, complexity, and risk to the mission. Finally, to make more efficient use of the solar panels under varying conditions, peak power tracking technologies are employed which electrically match the load and solar arrays. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of popular peak power tracking methods and compares them to fixed operating point and direct energy transfer designs and shows that for many missions peak power tracking offers little or no advantage over direct energy transfer approaches.