We have established ourselves as a center of excellence for high power systems on a wide range of programs including the ISS electric power system, rocket engine control systems, energy systems, laser and eletro-optic systems. The demand for power and energy is changing every day. To meet and exceed our customer needs we are continually developing advances in technology and standing ready to deliver the most reliable products, services and solutions.
With the brightest engineers and unique expertise that covers the entire product life cycle from conceptional design to customer service, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is positioned to undertake the most challenging demands of power generation systems, power distribution management, energy storage products and services.
Power Management and Distribution
The choice for a PMAD system is highly mission dependent and requires selected expertise before optimum architectural choices can be made. The electrical and mechanical design of a PMAD system requires a clear understanding of the mission requirements and consideration of such issues as energy balance over life, system stability, electromagnetic interference, corona and electrostatic discharge immunity, radiation and single event effects, reliability, redundancy, autonomous operation, fault recovery, thermal design margins, size, efficiency, weight and cost. We have the world's experts in the field who have masterminded the PMAD system for the largest and most complex structure that has ever been placed in orbit: the International Space Station.
Energy Storage
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has extensive experience in energy storage methods for space and terrestrial applications. Options such as primary battery, secondary battery and fuel cells are available. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has the design and analysis expertise to determine the best solution for a space power or ground application.
We have used fuel cell systems for our manned missions. The fuel cell includes a number of fuel cells assembled like the cells in a battery to form the fuel stack. The remainder of the system includes the external fuel and oxidant tanks, water collection apparatus, and the associated electrical, valving and plumbing hardware.
We have provided thermal storage that use "salts" such as Calcium chloride to store energy for later retrieval by thermal conversion system such as Thermionics, Stirling, Brayton, or Rankine.
Power Generation
Two methods are available for long term mission space power: Solar array and nuclear heater. The solar array is effective for earth and inner planets satellites. Single crystal silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, gallium arsenide, copper indium diselenide and cadmium telluride are some of the solar arrays used by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne in different programs.
Proven Capabilities:
Space power electronics
DC to DC converter, 9KW (ISS:DDCU)
High voltage plasma cancellation device
Solar Array power and mast erection interface
Power switch boxes (from 3.5 to 65A)(ISS:RPCM)
Power controller, digital firmware/software
Power cabling (flat wire and twisted high current)
EMC control and mitigation
Unit and system level verification: Power, Grounding, Communication, Software, EMC
System level analysis and prediction
Cable time domain analysis
Engine Control interfaces (analog closed loop)
Magnetics design for transformers, current sense and inductors
High temperature electronics design and verification (300 C)
Proven System Engineering and Integration for complex power programs
| 
