Integrate
Frazer-Nash and Space Solar
Design of a clean, dependable and affordable energy generation system in space
• Frazer-Nash and Space Solar have agreed a long-term relationship to develop a space based solar power solution
• Space based solar power coverts sunlight to electricity in space and then beams it to earth using electromagnetic radiation (i.e. microwaves)
• The Space Solar 12-year programme will deliver multiple demonstrators and power producing satellites into orbit before commercialising full-scale Gigawatt capacity systems
• Frazer-Nash plan to continue to support the system design and programme development in an increasing capacity to build investor confidence and develop an era-defining energy supply for the world
• Provided Space Solar gain the required investment, there will be significant opportunities for us to deploy our wide-ranging capabilities in the near and long-term.
The project
Frazer-Nash are responsible for a whole-system design which includes both the space satellite and the ground station.
This pulls on many of our capabilities including:
• Advanced system design – developing novel solutions to complex problems in harsh environments. The satellite is 2km diameter to generate 1.4 GW which requires a low mass, high stiffness design to be economical
• Thermal analysis – understanding the heat loading on the PV cells due to concentrated sunlight its distribution and radiation of waste heat
• Structural analysis – the very large, sparse space structure will have complex dynamic responses to orbital loads – understanding the response and designing a solution to maintain all items in alignment is critical
• Physics modelling – understanding the orbital position of the satellite relative to planetary bodies is key to understand eclipse impacts
• Visualisation – showing the engineering solution in an immersive way to captivate investors
• Cost and performance modelling – allowing the impact of design options to be assessed against cost and performance metrics to understand if it will be a success. This considered whole-lifecycle costs and different scenarios and sensitivities to be run.
And allowed the development of new capabilities:
• Ray tracing – using ANSYS Zemax to design and assess the light path, and associated disturbances, from the sun through the solar concentrators and on to the PV cells.
Frazer-Nash and Reaction Engines
Sabre Rocket Engine Design
SABRE Air Breathing Rocket Engine development for a future fully reusable spaceplane
- 4 Frazer-Nash a core engineering partner with large multidisciplinary team
- Lead the design of the Air Breathing Helium Circulator turbomachine
- Test Rig design and development support
- Engine start system design support
- Developed design from start to successful PDR
