Reliability of Spacecraft Power Systems

Reliability of Spacecraft Power Systems
Fabrice WALLECAN
(March 2011)
Template reference : 100181670S-EN
Thales Alenia Space ETCA Ref : Date : FOR-08-03-FW 08/03/2011
INTERNAL THALES ALENIA SPACE COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE
All rights reserved 2009 Thales Alenia Space
Agenda
Part 1: Introduction
1. The space environment 2. Overview of Spacecraft Power Electronic systems 3. Reliability basic theory
Part 2: Reliability Improvement Methods

1. Actions on components 2. Product Assurance as a guarantee of Quality 3. Actions on Environment 4. Actions on Electronic Design
CONCLUSIONS

CONCLUSIONS
Severity of Space Environment
Some examples:
Severity of Space Environment
And also:
The main ones at reliability point of view are:

Radiations: multiple impacts on Solar Arrays and semi-conductors; they generate atomic oxygen in LEO; accumulation of electrical charges in insulating materials creates ESD (and probably induced EMI); Temperature: impacts on wearing out; drift of performances, increase of mechanical stress;
Satellite Systems Overview
A satellite is made of P/F (Platform)

Mechanical & thermal structure Electrical system, avionic, propulsion On-board computer, software, remote control Energy sources: solar, batteries, fuel
P/F
P/L
P/L (Payload)
Antennas, TWTA, Camera, altimeter, radar, detectors, Clock, scientific instruments,
P/F Equipments
Power Supply Subsystem Architecture of Satellites (Bus Generation: Primary Power)
~80 cm
Example of P/F Equipments
Conditioning architecture: PCDU and Interfaces

Regulated bus Voltage variation is limited to about +/- 1 V whatever the satellite modes Need of dedicated electronics to manage the battery discharge
Substantial power dissipation inside the PCDU during eclipse phase
Unregulated bus Bus voltage is imposed by the battery voltage
Impact on all DC/DC converters efficiency
Semi-regulated bus Regulated bus in sunlight only (No more used today) Choice is based on Users need (mission)
Scientific payloads may require regulated bus to fulfill their precisions Variability of power load (e.g. telecom Pmin to Pmax) Thermal stability of some specific loads may requires regulated bus (thermal management is easier in that architecture)
Users flight heritage

8
P/L Equipments
Power Supply Subsystem Architecture of Satellites (Bus Users Secondary Power)
Example of P/L Equipments
DC to DC Converter: Forward Active Clamp Topology

Vaux_sec D14 C6 PWR BUS INPUT FILTER & PROTECTIONS X3 X1 Telemetry LDO1 START-UP & PROTECTIONS M2 U1 CLK X6 FLIP FLOP U2 Drivers N5V X7 Vref_sec CONTROLLER X4 X2 C3 LDO3 en 3V5 4V2 X5 LDO2 D3 D4 C2 C7 D1 D2 C1 en C4 D10 en 7V6 OUTPUT TIMING CONTROL
M1
P5V
D11 D12
PRIMARY GND SECONDARY GND Bootstrap voltage Voltage regulation
D15 D16
C8 R15 R16
10
Definitions according to
is a collective term used to describe the availability performance and its influencing factors: reliability performance, maintainability performance and maintenance support performance is the ability of an item to perform a required function under given conditions for a given time interval is the ability of an item to be in a state to perform a required function under given conditions at a given instant of time or over a given time interval, assuming that the required external resources are provided is the ability of an item under given conditions of use, to be retained in, or restored to, a state in which it can perform a required function, when maintenance is performed under given conditions and using stated procedures and resources is the system state where an acceptable level of risk with respect to - fatality, injury, damage to hardware, damage to manned flight system, pollution of the environment, damage to public or private property - is not exceeded
11
Availability and Reliability
The system effectiveness and success depend on its availability for the intended use
The availability has two components:
Reliability Maintainability
For satellites once launched, the availability only depends on the reliability Reliability is based on the probability of numerous components working together successfully over the entire mission duration The probability of failure of a component comes from:
Random failure Wear-out failure Design failure Manufacturing failure
12
Reliability Random failures
If a large population of electronic components is put to test simultaneously:

The number of random failures in a given time duration regardless BOL or EOL is constant Notion of failure rate : the number of failure in unit time Units of :
FIT Number of failures in 109 hours
13
Reliability - Mechanical component - Software
14
Reliability Expressions
The general expression of reliability is known as the Poisson distribution function (exponential function of time) :
Reliability R(t)
t
Series configuration:
Rs = Ri
i =1
R(t ) = e
Parallel configuration:
Unreliability U(t)
n
U (t ) = 1 R(t )
Rp = 1 (1 Ri )
i =1
15
Failure Rate Estimation
Reliability models of components:

Various model of the failure rate were proposed through standards and handbooks (ref.: MIL-HDBK-217, RDF2000, UTE80810, ) For example, in MIL-HDBK-217, the basic model is : = b.T. S. E. A. Q. n
Adjustment Coefficient of other factors (nbr of cycles,) Quality Coefficient taking into account the quality level the component was designed with Coef. Function of constraints (stress) Adjustment Coefficient taking into account secondary and particular use constraints
Basic failure rate according to tests Coef. Function of the temperature
Environmental Coefficient taking into account the particular environment the component is going to be used
16
Example of Failure Rate estimation for diodes
17
Some reliability figures
Activity Pilot a Motorbike Drive a car Wine drinking (one liter a day) Accident Road accident (pedestrian) Plane crash Space equipments or systems Launcher (Space Flight Environment) DC to DC converter (without redundancies) DC to DC converter (without redundancies) DC to DC converter (with redundancies) PCDU (with redundancies)
Probability of death 2*10 1,7*10-4 -5 7,5*10 Probability of death 5*10-5 1*10-7 Probability of success 0,99999471 0,991278 0,876867 0,989 0.95
-2
Time interval one year one year one year Time interval one year one year Time interval 27 min one year 15 years 15 years 15 years
or one in .. 'chance' to die 50 5,882 13,333 or one in .. 'chance' to die 20,000 10,000,000 or one in .. 'chance' to fail 189,000 115 8 90 20
18

CONCLUSIONS
19
Reliability Improvement Methods
What to do for improving Reliability of Hardware systems or equipments?

Parts management Selection of components Analyses Electronic circuits Hardening Redundancies
Reliable circuit Design Environmental Design Fault tolerant Design
20
What to do for improving Reliability of Hardware systems ?

Parts management Selection of components Reliable circuit Design Analyses Environmental Design Electronic circuits Hardening Fault tolerant Design Redundancies
Parts Management
The main key elements for an effective Parts Management:

Use of Preferred Parts List (PPL):
In the course of a design effort, equipment designers need to select the parts and materials to be used to meet specified equipment requirements for performance, reliability, quality, reproducibility and cost. This selection task is greatly enhanced if the designer has a list of preferred parts available to help in this selection process.
Vendor, Technology and Device Selection:

It is imperative that engineers select and use components from manufacturers in which they have confidence. This confidence can be attained either empirically through adequate past performance of the part manufacturer, or from verification that the manufacturer is indeed producing high quality parts.
Design for Manufacturability:

The best part used in a good design is useless, unless it can be processed in a reliable and reproducible manner. Example of mounting method for a discrete part:
21

Reliability Analyses
Product Assurance (PA) is intended to assure that a design, proposed in the frame of a project, will result in a satisfactory degree of quality for the product Reliability engineering analyses are performed for this purpose; we can namely notice (not exhaustive list):
Reliability Analysis EPSA (Electrical Parts Stress Analysis) FMEA / FMECA (Failure Modes Effects (Criticality) Analysis FTA (Fault Tree Analysis) Common Cause Analysis WCA (Worst Case Analysis) Etc
22
Reliability Engineering Analyses - EPSA
1) EPSA : Electrical Parts Stress Analysis: For each parameter of a given component (generally corresponding to manufacturer Absolute Maximum Rating), it is necessary to evaluate the value of this parameter under two specific conditions :
120
Principe de base
Nominal max :
Case of nominal operation (without breakdown) but considering the nominal ranges of use (min and max voltage, min-max user current, ), It permits to ensure the lifespan (reliability)
Paramtre (%)
100 80 60
Rating
Derating
40 20
Fail Case Max (specific to Power systems):

Determination of the maximum value of the parameter in case of a simple breakdown of another circuit component It demonstrate the non-propagation of the breakdown
20
40
60
Tc(C)
80
100
120
140
160
23
Reliability Engineering Analyses - FMECA
2) FMECA : Failure Mode Effect and Criticality Analysis:

On the basis of a functional description and analysis, of the design and considering the various modes of failure of the components, the designer reviews the effects a component failure may have on the relevant function as well as its consequences on the complete equipment. The ultimate goal is to check that the delivered equipment is implemented in such way that: The design fully respects its specifications (protections, limits, ) There is no SPF (Single Point Failure or total loss after one failure) No propagation of a failure may happen
24
Reliability Engineering Analyses - WCA
3) The WCA: Worst case Analysis

Its aim is to check that the design will continue to operate in its specifications during all the lifespan of the material, taking into account : the initial tolerance of the components parameters, the drifts in temperature the degradations due to ageing The radiations (cumulated dose). This analysis is completed by the designer, using Extensive and modelling of the design. Specific component databases showing parameters affected by temperature; time and flying conditions
25
Reliability Engineering Analyses - WCA
3) The WCA: Worst case Analysis (contd) The Worst case analysis performed thanks to
a mathematical formula linking the analysed parameter to all the other influencing parameters, rigorously determining the variation range of the analysed parameter, considering the simultaneous existence of the environmental conditions (T , radiation, ), Extreme conditions of operation Extreme variations of other parameters (power supply voltage, ).
Three approaches of calculation are considered : The linear approach (EVA Extreme Value Analysis) The RSS approach (Root Square Sum) The Monte-Carlo approach (Statistic)
26

Environmental Design
Most important Environments that influence the electronic design:

Radiations: multiple impacts on Solar Arrays and semi-conductors; they generate atomic oxygen in LEO; accumulation of electrical charges in insulating materials creates ESD (and probably induced EMI);
Thermal: temperature effect has impacts on wearing out; drift of performances, increase of mechanical stress;
ESD / EMC: impacts on availability (system malfunctions), power quality, lifetime,
27
Radiations and SEP
Environmental constraints: Radiation Sources Trapped electrons Van Allen belts Total dose Trapped protons Van Allen belts Solar protons Sun eruptions Space heavy ions Cosmic rays
Decreasing of semi-conductor performances up to destruction SA cells, Mosfets, Bi-polar transistors,
Effects
S.E.E.
Transient effect on semi-conductors, may lead to its destruction Mosfets, Memory, Amplifiers,
=> The radiation environment has a direct impact on the definition & sizing of EPS
28
Radiations and SEP
The hardening of hardware devices to Radiations:

Use of Rad-Hard and SEE free components:
They are greatly differ from standard components used in conventional industry: The semiconductor manufacturing process is specific The price is very much higher (2 for a industry standard Mosfet against 380 for a Rad-Hard one)
Use of local shields to lower the total dose:

Thickness of shields depend on direction and strength of radiation sources
Place the component at another physical location inside the equipment Use of hot redundancies of functions or low pass filters to improve immunity to SEE:
Example for a D-Flip-Flop:
By negotiating the specifications

29
Thermal Design
The thermal environment and electronic design

Main Reliability improvement solution: COOLING ! Actions on packaging:
Dissipative components are mounted close to the equipment baseplate Use of FEM tools for the design and to support the reliability engineering analyses:
Actions on materials selection:

Use of metallic enclosures that provide a low thermal impedance, high mechanical stiffness and good ESD/EMC shielding effectiveness Use of high copper density multi layers PCBs that improve the thermal path to the mechanical structure
30
Radiations and ESD
ESD sources on Ground
Their effects
31
Radiations and ESD
ESD sources In Flight
Induced effects
Accumulation of electrical charges (Spacecraft charging)
Power system effects

Equipment failure Power quality degradation Electrical malfunctions Untimely equipment switch-off
ESD on EURECA SAs resulting from spacecraft charging
32
Final effects
ESD Mitigation techniques
At component level
On ground
In flight
Avoid metallic floating parts Use of appropriate filtering Use of shielded harness Etc
33

Fault Tolerant Design
Fault tolerance concept:

Simply stated, fault tolerant design means providing a system with the ability to operate, perhaps at a degraded but acceptable level, in the presence of faults Fault tolerance calls for REDUNDANCIES !!!
34
Active or Hot redundancy:

The redundant device is able to operate immediately after a failure without requesting any external action
Series Redundancy Bimodal Series-Parallel Redundancy Parallel Redundancy
Series-Parallel Redundancy
Bimodal Parallel-Series Redundancy (Cross strapping)
35
Standby or Cold redundancy:

The redundant device is not able to operate immediately after a failure and requests external action(s)
36
Voting techniques (= Active redundancy): Minority / Majority voting

The Valid decisions are made only if the number of useful elements exceeds the failed elements Application example for a single electrical signal (PCU Main bus voltage Error Amplifier) :
TMTC N MEA Channel1
VBUS_MEA VBUS_MEA TP_MEA_IN_1 TP_MEA_IN_1
TMTC R MEA Channel1 F540_2 Regulation1

VBUS_MEA
F540_2
VBUS_MEA
Regulation1
GND_MEA
GND_MEA
REF_10_0
REF_10_0
Reference Voltage1
ST_MEA_1
F540_1
Reference Voltage1 F540_1
ST_MEA_1
F540_4
VBUS_MEA
Regulation2
TM_MEA
TM_MEA
F540_4
MEA
Regulation 2
VBUS_MEA
MEA
TP_MEA_IN_2
TP_MEA_OUT
TP_MEA_OUT
TP_MEA_IN_2
F540_5
1/2 voter
F540_5
1/2 voter
REF_10_1
REF_10_1
Reference Voltage2
ST_MEA_2
F540_3
Reference Voltage2 F540_3
ST_MEA_2
MEA Channel2
MEA Channel2
VMEA = MAX [min(mea1, mea2), min(mea3, mea4)]

37
PCB routing is also performed with redundant tracks!
Fault Tolerant Design Various examples
38

CONCLUSIONS
39
Conclusions
Increasing reliability of electronic hardware is a long iterative process ! It requests: A lot of time during the development phases A high level of engineering knowledge (specialists in multiple disciplines are needed) Different equipment models (Prototypes, EM, QM,) to finally get Flight Models (FM) Reliability has a COST: Lets take for example the cost of a triple outputs DC to DC converter (low power):
Conventional market: 0.1 k Military market: 1 k Space market: 10 k
Like in many disciplines, the rule of common sense also applies in reliability ! Improving reliability often means much more components; which induces in turn unreliability
40
Thank you for your attention Questions ? Comments ?

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Reliability of Spacecraft Power Systems

Thales Alenia Space ETCA Ref : Date : FOR-08-03-FW 08/03/2011

INTERNAL THALES ALENIA SPACE COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE

All rights reserved 2009 Thales Alenia Space

Part 2: Reliability Improvement Methods

Thales Alenia Space ETCA Ref : Date : FOR-08-03-FW 08/03/2011

INTERNAL THALES ALENIA SPACE COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE

All rights reserved 2009 Thales Alenia Space

Part 2: Reliability Improvement Methods

Thales Alenia Space ETCA Ref : Date : FOR-08-03-FW 08/03/2011

INTERNAL THALES ALENIA SPACE COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE

All rights reserved 2009 Thales Alenia Space

Severity of Space Environment

Thales Alenia Space ETCA Ref : Date : FOR-08-03-FW 08/03/2011

INTERNAL THALES ALENIA SPACE COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE

All rights reserved 2009 Thales Alenia Space

Severity of Space Environment

The main ones at reliability point of view are:

Thales Alenia Space ETCA Ref : Date : FOR-08-03-FW 08/03/2011

INTERNAL THALES ALENIA SPACE COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE

All rights reserved 2009 Thales Alenia Space

Satellite Systems Overview

A satellite is made of P/F (Platform)

Thales Alenia Space ETCA Ref : Date : FOR-08-03-FW 08/03/2011

INTERNAL THALES ALENIA SPACE COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE

All rights reserved 2009 Thales Alenia Space

Power Supply Subsystem Architecture of Satellites (Bus Generation: Primary Power)

Thales Alenia Space ETCA Ref : Date : FOR-08-03-FW 08/03/2011

INTERNAL THALES ALENIA SPACE COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE

All rights reserved 2009 Thales Alenia Space

Example of P/F Equipments

Conditioning architecture: PCDU and Interfaces

Substantial power dissipation inside the PCDU during eclipse phase

Unregulated bus Bus voltage is imposed by the battery voltage

Impact on all DC/DC converters efficiency

Users flight heritage

INTERNAL THALES ALENIA SPACE COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE

All rights reserved 2009 Thales Alenia Space

Power Supply Subsystem Architecture of Satellites (Bus Users Secondary Power)

Thales Alenia Space ETCA Ref : Date : FOR-08-03-FW 08/03/2011

INTERNAL THALES ALENIA SPACE COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE

All rights reserved 2009 Thales Alenia Space

Example of P/L Equipments

DC to DC Converter: Forward Active Clamp Topology

PRIMARY GND SECONDARY GND Bootstrap voltage Voltage regulation

Thales Alenia Space ETCA Ref : Date : FOR-08-03-FW 08/03/2011

INTERNAL THALES ALENIA SPACE COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE

All rights reserved 2009 Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space ETCA Ref : Date : FOR-08-03-FW 08/03/2011

Availability and Reliability

INTERNAL THALES ALENIA SPACE COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE

All rights reserved 2009 Thales Alenia Space

Reliability Random failures

If a large population of electronic components is put to test simultaneously:

Thales Alenia Space ETCA Ref : Date : FOR-08-03-FW 08/03/2011

INTERNAL THALES ALENIA SPACE COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE

All rights reserved 2009 Thales Alenia Space

Reliability - Mechanical component - Software

Thales Alenia Space ETCA Ref : Date : FOR-08-03-FW 08/03/2011

INTERNAL THALES ALENIA SPACE COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE