Kyushu Institute of Technology Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Kyushu Institute of Technology Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Kyushu Institute of Technology Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Kyushu Institute of Technology Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Kyushu Institute of Technology Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Kyushu Institute of Technology Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Kyushu Institute of Technology Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
出版者
宇宙航空研究開発機構
出版者（英）
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
雑誌名
宇宙航空研究開発機構特別資料
雑誌名(英)
JAXA Special Publication: 9th Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference
巻
JAXA-SP-05-001E
ページ
171 - 178
発行年
2005-08-01
抄録（英）
In Low Earth Orbit, cracks are often made at the power cable of a satellite by debris, heat cycle, etc. Triple junctions are formed from these cracks. Then arcs may occur. On a satellite, the cables of HOT and RTN are placed close to each other in many cases. Therefore, secondary arc may occur if arc tracking is formed. If permanent sustained arc takes place, the cable is carbonized and burned out. At the worst case, it will spread to neighboring cables. If it becomes so, the satellite may lose power from the solar panel. The purpose of this study is to investigate the conditions by which self-sustained electrical discharge is generated on cables. An experiment was carried out in a vacuum chamber which simulated Low Earth Orbit environment. A substrate made of CFRP (Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastics) was used. The experiment was carried out by placing the cables with cracks on the CFRP surface or on Kapton facesheet over the CFRP. Many secondary arcs, even permanent sustained arcs were observed in both environments. In the test of simulating front surface, permanent sustained arc occurred when the condition of the string voltage was 200 V and the line current was 2.7 A. In the test of simulating back surface, because the CFRP substrate was exposed, primary arcs occurred frequently. The arc plasma led to the permanent sustained arc between the cable and the substrate.
Laboratory test of arcing on satellite power cables
49206023.pdf
(2.74MB)
