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Low concentration ration solar array for low Earth orbit multi-100 kW application

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5960586
An ongoing preliminary design effort directed toward a low-concentration-ratio photovoltaic array system based on 1984 technology and capable of delivering multi-hundred kilowatts (300 kW to 1000 kW range) in low earth orbit is described. The array system consists of two or more array modules each capable of delivering between 80 kW to 172 kW using silicon solar cells or gallium arsenide solar cells respectively. The array module deployed area is 1320 square meters and consists of 4356 pyramidal concentrator elements. The module, when stowed in the Space Shuttle's payload bay, has a stowage volume of a cube with 3.24 meters on a side. The concentrator elements are sized for a geometric concentration ratio (GCR) of six with an aperture area of 0.5 meters x 0.5 meters. The structural analysis and design trades leading to the baseline design are discussed. The configuration, as well as optical, thermal and electrical performance analyses that support the design and overall performance estimates for the array are described.
Research Organization:
Rockwell International Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5960586
Report Number(s):
N-8320360; NASA-CR-170729
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
AIRCRAFT
CONCENTRATORS
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
GALLIUM ARSENIDE SOLAR CELLS
ORBITAL SOLAR POWER PLANTS
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOELECTROMAGNETIC EFFECTS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT
POWER PLANTS
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SPACE SHUTTLES
SPACE VEHICLES
VEHICLES