COTS Battery Charge Equalizer for Small Satellite Applications

This paper describes the design and implementation of a battery equalizer circuit for small satellites, developed under the New Space philosophy exclusively using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The primary objective is to ensure high reliability for mission-critical power systems while...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pablo Casado, José M. Blanes, Ausiàs Garrigós, David Marroquí, Cristian Torres
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8228
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Summary:This paper describes the design and implementation of a battery equalizer circuit for small satellites, developed under the New Space philosophy exclusively using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The primary objective is to ensure high reliability for mission-critical power systems while adhering to strict cost constraints. In order to achieve this objective, the design incorporates a robust analog control circuit, thereby avoiding the complexities and potential single-point failures associated with digital controllers. A comprehensive study of various cell-balancing topologies was conducted, leading to the selection, hardware implementation, and comparative analysis of the two most suitable candidates. The results of this study provide a validated, cost-effective, and reliable battery equalizer solution for developers of small satellites.
ISSN:2076-3417