This activity aims at performing the first of two steps required in order to qualify a bank of supercapacitors (the SpaceCap Stack) for its use in spacecraft electrical power systems, notably for high current demand applications.

 

The objectives of the first step are to

• develop and mechanically and thermally test an engineering model of supercapacitor module, the Electrical- Mechanical Demonstrator

• further develop and mechanically and thermally test the supercapacitor cell

• improve and test the electro-chemistry of the cell

 

 

Supercapacitors (also called ultracapacitors or electrochemical double layer capacitors) are suitable for high power applications (but requiring low energy). These devices are now available on terrestrial market and used in aeronautics (Airbus A380 emergency door opening), in automotive industry. They are well suited for applications requiring pulses for short duration (less than few seconds) whereas batteries are better suited for applications requiring longer discharge time.

Supercapacitors may be advantageous when there are payloads such as RADARs or LIDARs. They may help improve the main power bus voltage regulation performance, to lower peak loads seen by the main battery pack and reduce power supply noise.

 

This activity builds on work performed in two previous ESA projects. The first project (Electric Double Layer Capacitors for Space Applications, reference PEE 11-08SN) focused on the development of high end supercapacitors, with the main emphasis on research related to Carbide Derived Carbon (CDC) technology for the capacitor electrode. The project allowed for advancements in CDC synthesis and post-treatment research and enabled the achievement of higher power and energy density and better control the temperature behaviour of CDC based electrode. The second project (Spacecap Ultracapacitor Based Energy Storage Device, reference PEE13-12) provided a proof of concept The project?s purpose was to measure the impact of a SpaceCap Stack on the electrical bus voltage cleanliness.

 

The proposed activity is the first of two steps towards the qualification of a bank of supercapacitor. It consists of the development of a bank of supercapacitor validated by mechanical and thermal testing. The second step (not covered in this activity aims at a complete space qualification.

 

The activity consists of three main tasks:

• System analysis and refinement of the requirements for the supercapacitor cell and the bank of supercapacitor.

• Optimisation of existing supercapacitor component including packaging/mechanical aspect and electro-chemical improvement. The testing shall demonstrate that requirements specified in the first task are satisfied.

• Design, manufacturing and test of an Engineering Mechanical Model. The testing shall address the mechanical and temperature stress requirements defined in the first task.