Peter E. Kascak

Integrated power and attitude control with two flywheels

Energy storage and attitude control are two distinct subsystems of the typical satellite. Energy storage is provided using batteries and active attitude control is accomplished with control moment gyroscopes or reaction wheels. A system mass savings can be achieved if these two subsystems are combined using multiple flywheels for simultaneous kinetic energy storage and momentum transfer. This paper develops, simulates, and experimentally demonstrates the control algorithms to accomplish integrated power and single-axis attitude control using two flywheels.

DC Bus Regulation with a Flywheel Energy Storage System

This paper describes the DC bus regulation control algorithm for the NASA flywheel energy storage system during charge, charge reduction and discharge modes of operation. The algorithm was experimentally verified with results given in a previous paper. This paper presents the necessary models for simulation with detailed block diagrams of the controller algorithm. It is shown that the flywheel system and the controller can be modeled in three levels of detail depending on the type of analysis required. The three models are explained and then compared using simulation results.

Bearingless Five-Axis Rotor Levitation with Two Pole Pair Separated Conical Motors

In some high performance applications, such as high speed rotating machinery, systems where access for maintenance is limited, or operating environments with extreme temperatures and pressures, motors without mechanical bearings would be preferred. This paper presents the theory, simulation, and lab results of a new type of fully magnetically levitated bearingless motor. The motors are wound without internally connecting the pole pairs, and force is controlled by varying rotor reference frame d-axis current to each pole pair. This in turn raises or lowers the flux caused by the permanent magnets, creating a flux imbalance on the periphery of the rotor [1], which in turn creates a net force on the rotor. The conical shape of the motor allows forces to be created in both radial and axial directions, allowing these motors full 5-axis levitation. Index Terms – Bearingless Motor, Conical Motor, 5-axis levitation.

Single axis attitude control and DC bus regulation with two flywheels

A computer simulation of a flywheel energy storage single axis attitude control system is described. The simulation models hardware which will be experimentally tested in the future. This hardware consists of two counter rotating flywheels mounted to an airtable. The airtable allows one axis of rotational motion. An inertia DC bus coordinator is set forth that allows the two control problems, bus regulation and attitude control, to be separated. Simulation results are presented with a previously derived flywheel bus regulator (Kascak, 2001) and a simple PID attitude controller.

Demonstration of attitude control and bus regulation with flywheels

A flywheel energy storage device stores energy in a rotating mass. These devices can be used to perform the same function as traditional chemical batteries. In terms of the energy storage function, a flywheel system has significant advantages over chemical batteries: length of life, energy density, power density, and the capability of deep depth of discharge. Also, flywheels can be used to control the attitude of the spacecraft. This paper describes an experiment using two flywheels to simultaneously regulate a DC bus and provide single axis angle regulation on an air table. Models of the mechanical and electrical systems are developed, and simulations are run, then compared to experimental results. The correspondence of the simulations and experiments shows the sufficiency of the modeling of subsystems.

Magnetic Bearing Amplifier Output Power Filters for Flywheel Systems

Five power filters and two types of power amplifiers were tested for use with active magnetic bearings for flywheel applications. Filter topologies included low pass filters and low pass filters combined with trap filters at the PWM switching frequency. Two state and three state PWM amplifiers were compared. Each system was evaluated based on current magnitude at the switching frequency, voltage magnitude at 500 kHz, and power consumption. The base line system was a two state amplifier without a power filter. The recommended system is a three state power amplifier with a 50 kHz low pass filter and a 27 kHz trap filter. This system uses 5.57 W. It reduces the switching current by an order of magnitude and the 500 kHz voltage by two orders of magnitude. The relative power consumption varied depending on the test condition between 60 to 130 percent of the baseline.