Enhanced plasma current collection from weakly conducting solar array blankets
Among the solar cell technologies to be tested in space as part of the Solar Array Module Plasma Interactions Experiment (SAMPIE) will be the Advanced Photovoltaic Solar Array (APSA). Several prototype twelve cell coupons were built for NASA using different blanket materials and mounting techniques. The first conforms to the baseline design for APSA which calls for the cells to be mounted on a carbon loaded Kapton blanket to control charging in GEO. When deployed, this design has a flexible blanket supported around the edges. A second coupon was built with the cells mounted on Kapton-H, which was in turn cemented to a solid aluminum substrate. A final coupon was identical to the latter but used germanium coated Kapton to control atomic oxygen attack in LEO. Ground testing of these coupons in a plasma chamber showed considerable differences in plasma current collection. The Kapton-H coupon demonstrated current collection consistent with exposed interconnects and some degree of cell snapover. The other two coupons experienced anomalously large collection currents. This behavior is believed to be a consequence of enhanced plasma sheaths supported by the weakly conducting carbon and germanium used in these coupons. The results reported here are the first experimental evidence that the use of such materials can result in power losses to high voltage space power systems.
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (United States). Lewis Research Center
- OSTI ID:
- 6263609
- Report Number(s):
- N-93-27081; NASA-TM-106168; E-7860; NAS-1.15:106168; CNN: RTOP 506-48-2B
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
POWER LOSSES
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
TESTING
SUBSTRATES
ALUMINIUM
CARBON
DESIGN
GERMANIUM
OXYGEN
PLASMA SHEATH
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LOSSES
EQUIPMENT
LOSSES
METALS
NONMETALS
POWER SUPPLIES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems