Evaluation and testing of flexible thin-film photovoltaic (FTFPV) technology based on the UltraFlex solar array design

Author

Piszczor, Michael F. ; Spence, Brian R. ; Douglas, Mark V. ; White, Steve F.

Author_Institution

NASA Glenn Res. Center, USA

fYear

2005

Firstpage

814

Lastpage

817

Abstract

ABLE engineering´s UltraFlex solar array platform, optimized specifically for integration of flexible thin-film photovoltaic (FTFPV) technology, represents a near-term, low-risk approach to demonstrating outstanding specific power performance by taking advantage of the inherent FTFPV attributes. ABLE has recently completed a NASA phase 2 SBIR program to mature and validate FTFPV blanket subassemblies as the electrical subsystem element within this unique structural platform. An overview of the program is presented, including: design, development, analysis, build/test and system level integration of both α-Si and CIGS FTFPV within an optimized UltraFlex solar array system. Subsystem and array system level test results are discussed, along with follow-on technology development and flight experiment plans.

Keywords

aerospace instrumentation; amorphous semiconductors; elemental semiconductors; silicon; solar cell arrays; thin films; NASA phase 2 SBIR program; Si; UltraFlex solar array design; electrical subsystem element; flexible thin-film photovoltaic technology; flight experiment; system level integration; Design engineering; NASA; Optical arrays; Phased arrays; Photovoltaic systems; Power engineering and energy; Solar power generation; Space technology; Testing; Transistors;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2005. Conference Record of the Thirty-first IEEE

ISSN

0160-8371

Print_ISBN

0-7803-8707-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.2005.1488257

Filename

1488257