Analysis of Triple Junction Solar Arrays After Three Years in Orbit

Author

Fodor, J.S. ; Gelb, S.W. ; Maassarani, Z. ; Powe, J.S. ; Schwartz, J.A.

Author_Institution

Boeing Co., El Segundo, CA

Volume

2

fYear

2006

fDate

38838

Firstpage

1955

Lastpage

1958

Abstract

We present the in-orbit performance of Boeing solar arrays built with improved triple junction (ITJ) GalnP₂/GaAs/Ge solar cells. Comparison of telemetered and predicted power output shows consistent results throughout the spacecraft fleet with performance exceeding prediction by approximately 2%. We analyze the dependence of solar array output on spacecraft load to extract data on the shape of the solar array I-V curve. These results show close agreement between prediction and measurement; specifically, the telemetered ratio of current at load to short-circuit current is within 1.2% of prediction after 3.3 years in orbit

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; gallium arsenide; germanium; indium compounds; load (electric); solar cell arrays; space telemetry; space vehicle power plants; 3.3 yrs; Boeing solar arrays; GaInP₂-GaAs-Ge; GalnP₂-GaAs-Ge solar cells; improved triple junction solar arrays; in-orbit performance; short-circuit current; solar array I-V curve; spacecraft fleet; spacecraft load; Extraterrestrial measurements; Performance analysis; Photovoltaic cells; Power measurement; Power system measurements; Predictive models; Space technology; Space vehicles; Telemetry; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, Conference Record of the 2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on

Conference_Location

Waikoloa, HI

Print_ISBN

1-4244-0017-1

Electronic_ISBN

1-4244-0017-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/WCPEC.2006.279881

Filename

4060047