Efficient Internal AC Heating System for CubeSat Power Storage Subsystems

The proliferation of space technology and the decreasing cost of launching services have spurred the development of components for CubeSats. Among these components, the power storage subsystem, which is responsible for distributing power stored in batteries to the system, is of utmost importance. However, ensuring battery functionality in the harsh space environment, characterized by low temperatures, poses a significant challenge. Traditional external heating systems that heat batteries are often complex and unsuitable for resource-limited environments like CubeSats. Therefore, this paper proposes AC internal heating based on charge pump topology to generate AC current and validate battery aging analysis via Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). This method offers efficiency in terms of space utilization and rapid heating rates. The results of our study demonstrate that the proposed heating system achieves a heating rate of 7.5 degrees Celsius in Panasonic NCR18650 cells with an RMS current of 4.37C while consuming only 1.85% of the cell's energy. Moreover, after 60 heating cycles, no signs of battery degradation were observed, making it suitable for non-serviceable battery systems.