Electrostatic Discharge Tests of Solar Array Coupons With Different String-to-String Gaps Without RTV Adhesive Grout

Author

Masui, Hirokazu ; Endo, Taishi ; Toyoda, Kazuhiro ; Cho, Mengu ; Wong, Frankie K. ; Hoang, Bao ; Redick, Tod

Author_Institution

Lab. of Spacecraft Environ. Interaction Eng., Kyushu Inst. of Technol., Kitakyushu, Japan

Volume

40

Issue

2

fYear

2012

Firstpage

351

Lastpage

358

Abstract

A series of electrostatic discharge (ESD) tests was performed on solar array test coupons consisting of triple-junction InGaP₂/GaAs/Ge solar cells. The string-to-string parallel gaps were not grouted with RTV adhesives. Various combinations of the gap width, the load voltage, and the string current were tested in a vacuum chamber equipped with an electron beam gun to investigate the threshold of secondary arcs. The ESD test circuit included simulated panel coverglass flashover. The insulation resistance between strings was found to decrease as the number of secondary arcs accumulates in the gap.

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; electrostatic discharge; gallium arsenide; germanium; indium compounds; solar cells; InGaP₂-GaAs-Ge; RTV adhesive grout; electron beam gun; electrostatic discharge tests; gap width; load voltage; panel coverglass flashover; secondary arcs; solar array test coupons; solar cells; string current; string to string parallel gaps; triple junction; vacuum chamber; Arrays; Current measurement; Discharges; Electrostatic discharges; Photovoltaic cells; Resistance; Satellites; Electrostatic discharge (ESD); solar array coupons; string-to-string gaps; sub-storm; sustained arc;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPS.2011.2176754

Filename

6129441