Four Space Applications with Ansys Charge Plus and Ansys EMC Plus
Engineers must consider several electromagnetic threats when designing for the harshness of space. There is the risk of arcing, material surface and internal charging, 3D particle transport, and dielectric breakdown. At EMA, we make it easier to analyze the risks that can lead to mission failure.
In this article, we take a look at four use cases and how Ansys Charge Plus and Ansys EMC Plus can get you to the launch pad on schedule without added expenses.
Mitigating ESD in Space on a Solar Array
Harsh radiation environments in space expose satellites to risk due to the lack of protection from the Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field. One of the key components that designers must consider is high energy electrons and ions that can penetrate inside of the satellite components and charge a dielectric. This includes solar arrays.
The consequences of getting an electrostatic discharge (ESD) inside of a solar cell can be drastic- potentially leading to the loss of the entire satellite. There are ways to mitigate this charging risk such as adding shielding, changing materials, and altering component geometry to minimize electric fields building up in the system.
In Ansys Charge Plus, users can model how radiation reacts with materials while solving for the electric fields in 3D. The software also simulates ESDs, determines their locations, the amount of energy present, and the extent of material damage.
A solar array is a critical component of a spacecraft, providing long term power to vital electric systems. Watch the video below to learn how Ansys Charge Plus can prevent the catastrophic effects of dielectric breakdown in solar cells and prolong mission success.
Surface Charging Simulation on the Moon
Unlike deep dielectric charging in the previous example, surface charging involves charged particles potentially building up on the surface of a material as it interacts with the space plasma environment. Designers must not only consider dust and free-floating charged particles, but also how lower energy particles interact with the surface of satellites, space suits, and any infrastructure. Any differential charging can lead to an ESD that can damage or disable the component.
Using Ansys Charge Plus, we can solve for that imbalance of electric charge. The software makes it easy to assign material properties as well as use the library of various space environments. A fine mesh accommodates analysis of smaller parts like antennas and electric boxes for ESD. Users have access to a state-of-the-art visualization tool to easily decipher their simulation results.
Testing designs for a lunar environment is costly and difficult. The video below demonstrates how engineers use Ansys Charge Plus to explore various design alternatives and ensure they protect the entire spacecraft from potential ESD damage.
Radiation Hardening of PCBs
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are typically located inside an enclosure deep within a spacecraft. However, a lot of space radiation is sufficiently energetic to penetrate through shielding and cause problems. Mitigations include adding extra shielding at the component level or even changing the enclosure materials or thickness. This could add extra weight to the spacecraft making the mission more costly, so it is important to find the right materials and proper design.
Ansys Charge Plus can model a PCB inside an enclosure buried deep in a satellite and determine how much radiation will reach the component. The ray tracing solution helps users to better understand how much shielding there is between the PCB and the outside environment. Users can use a dose-depth curve to extract how much dose will penetrate down to the component.
Radiation hardening simulation is an extremely valuable tool for ensuring space mission success, allowing you to predict ionizing dose which in turn helps you determine the best design solutions early in the process. Watch the video below for a closer look at how it works.
RFI of a Satellite Inside a Rocket Fairing
Satellites often have an antenna located inside of a rocket fairing. While positioned on the launch pad, it is possible that when certain equipment is powered on, it could lead to radio frequency interference (RFI) with other communication systems on the platform.
Ansys EMC Plus uses its solvers to ensure there are no frequencies that will interference with other instruments on the system. The software can report on very specific locations and on fields around the entire satellite.
Visualizing these RF fields around and within a spacecraft is useful and cost effective. Watch the video below to see how simulation enables the design team to quickly identify trouble spots prior to production and minimize the risk of RFI within the system.
Learn More
To learn more about these and additional features of Charge Plus and EMC Plus, please reach out to EMA by clicking here.
Ansys is the exclusive seller of Ansys Charge Plus and Ansys EMC Plus. Reach out to your Ansys sales professional to learn more about purchasing the software. You can also click here.
