CHALLENGES OF INTEGRATING SUPERCAPACITORS INTO STRUCTURES FOR SPACE QUALIFICATION

Abstract

Weight and volume savings are always an important issue for space structures. The energy system is weight, volume and cost intensive. Because of its important role, it is rarely considered for integration into structure. Due to their physical energy storing process, supercapacitors can endure more than a million cycles and are therefore ideal for being integrated. This paper deals with the development and characterization of thin film supercapacitors, which can easily be integrated into a composite lay-up. They consist of two collectors coated with electrodes separated by an electrically insulating membrane. The electrodes and the separator are wetted by an electrically insulating but ionic conductive ionic liquid. Ideal applications for this energy storage device are peak power systems. Here, a positioning system using a high torque wheel was modified. Several challenges had to be managed to reach a technology readiness level of 5 and to verify the space qualification.