A parabolic trough photovoltaic concentrator for space power generation

Conference · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1984 · Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5819880

Stern, T G

A space power concentrator, the Survivable Low Aperture Trough Solar concentrator (SLATS), has been under development at General Dynamics since 1979. The baseline design comprises a set of parabolic trough mirrors that also function as thermal radiators, a set of photovoltaic receiver strips, and a frame structure upon which the mirror-cell modules are mounted. The parabolic trough mirror-radiators reflect light off their frontsides onto the photovoltaic receiver strip mounted upon the adjacent mirror. Waste heat is conducted away from the solar cells through the mirror and radiated off its emissive backside. The photovoltaic receiver strips include a linear string of solar cells, a substrate insulated from the primary mirror, and copper busbars used to collect power from the various solar cells to route it to larger busses contained within the frame structure. The frame structure is constructed to maintain the proper orientation and spacing of the mirrors, so that the entire array may be pointed by a tracking mechanism attached to the frame. Progress made in developing the SLATS concentrator is described, including its optical design, thermal heat rejection approach, and the structural design needed to maintain concentrator pointing requirements.

• Research Organization: General Dynamics Convair Division, San Diego, California
• OSTI ID: 5819880
• Report Number(s): CONF-840804-
• Journal Information: Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States), Vol. 1; Conference: Intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, San Francisco, CA, USA, 19 Aug 1984
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
PARABOLIC REFLECTORS
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
MIRRORS
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
WASTE HEAT
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY
EQUIPMENT
HEAT
POWER SUPPLIES
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR REFLECTORS
WASTES
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems
141000 - Solar Collectors & Concentrators