Line-focus optics for multijunction cells in space power arrays

Author

O´Neill, M.J.

Author_Institution

ENTECH Inc., Keller, TX

fYear

1996

fDate

13-17 May 1996

Firstpage

349

Lastpage

352

Abstract

Since 1986, ENTECH has been developing lightweight, high-performance Fresnel lens optics for space photovoltaic concentrator systems. This development work has been technically and financially supported by NASA-Lewis, SDIO, BMDO, Boeing, JX Crystals and AEC-ABLE. A fully functional experimental mini-dome Fresnel lens concentrator solar cell array was onboard the PASP Plus mission launched in August 1994. This array, assembled by Boeing using mechanically stacked multijunction (MSMJ) solar cells, confirmed the high-performance and low-radiation-degradation characteristics predicted for the refractive concentrator approach. Since PASP Plus, ENTECH has developed a line-focus Fresnel lens offering much improved manufacturability, cost, and sun-pointing error tolerance. This paper presents the latest line-focus optical designs customized for use with MSMJ cells and with monolithic multijunction (MMJ) cells

Keywords

lenses; optical design techniques; p-n heterojunctions; photovoltaic power systems; solar cell arrays; solar cells; solar energy concentrators; space vehicle power plants; PASP Plus mission; line-focus optical designs; mechanically stacked multijunction solar cells; mini-dome Fresnel lens; photovoltaic concentrator systems; refractive concentrator; space power solar cell arrays; Assembly; Costs; Crystals; Lenses; Manufacturing; Optical arrays; Optical refraction; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic systems; Solar power generation;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1996., Conference Record of the Twenty Fifth IEEE

Conference_Location

Washington, DC

ISSN

0160-8371

Print_ISBN

0-7803-3166-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.1996.564017

Filename

564017