DocumentCode :
1863818
Title :
Modular solar panels using components engineered for producibility
Author :
Stern, Theodore ; Reid, Austin
Author_Institution :
Vanguard Space Technol., Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
fYear :
2011
fDate :
19-24 June 2011
Abstract :
A modular panel approach for spacecraft solar arrays is described that uses space qualified materials, including conventional high efficiency crystalline solar cells, and engineers the component designs for producibility. The module design includes a multi-cell protective transparent coverglass replacement layer, insulating substrate, interconnects, diodes and wiring. The approach allows improved environmental resistance, while simultaneously providing a design that has enough standardization that it can be transitioned to a repetitive production environment. Features built into the layers position the Cell-Interconnect (CI) assemblies, solder preforms and wiring connections, allowing a one step process for covering, stringing, laydown and wiring of the array of solar cells into series-parallel strings. The lamination approach also allows the solar cells to be mounted onto a Kapton flex-circuit layer, which, together with a multi-cell, conductively coated cover, can provide electromagnetic cleanliness needed for some missions. Samples of solar cell stack including coverglass replacement material, as well as 2- and 4-cell submodules were built and tested in LEO environments, including thermal cycling, vacuum ultraviolet and proton irradiation, which led to a flight test on MISSE-7. Data from the first year in LEO confirms the ability of the design to perform on a par with current qualified solar panels using custom designs with conventional coverglass. A standardized single string module that fits into a larger panel frame was developed with eighteen modules fabricated, assembled into three panels, and subsequently integrated into a three panel array. A simulated zero-G deployment of the 3-panel array was demonstrated, looking towards possible application to an ESPA-size spacecraft.
Keywords :
solar cell arrays; solar power satellites; solar powered vehicles; space vehicles; 2-cell submodules; 4-cell submodules; CI assemblies; Kapton flex-circuit layer; LEO environments; MISSE-7; cell-interconnect assemblies; coverglass replacement material; crystalline solar cells; electromagnetic cleanliness; flight test; improved environmental resistance; insulating substrate; modular panel approach; modular solar panels; multicell protective transparent coverglass replacement layer; proton irradiation; repetitive production environment; series-parallel strings; solar cell stack; space qualified materials; spacecraft solar cell arrays; thermal cycling; vacuum ultraviolet; Assembly; Hardware; Low earth orbit satellites; Photovoltaic cells; Substrates; Wiring;
fLanguage :
English
Publisher :
ieee
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2011 37th IEEE
Conference_Location :
Seattle, WA
ISSN :
0160-8371
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-9966-3
Type :
conf
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.2011.6186267
Filename :
6186267
Link To Document :
بازگشت