GLTRS--Glenn
TITLE AND SUBTITLE:
High Voltage Solar Concentrator Experiment With Implications for Future Space Missions

AUTHOR(S):
Ishaque S. Mehdi, Patrick J. George, Mark O'Neill, Robert Matson, and Arthur Brockschmidt

REPORT DATE:
November 2004

FUNDING NUMBERS:
WBS-22-905-10-01

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field
Cleveland, Ohio 44135-3191

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER:
E-14829

SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Washington, DC 20546-0001

REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED:
Technical Memorandum

SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER:
NASA TM-2004-213361

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES:
Prepared for the Solar Power From Space (SPS '04) cosponsored by the ESA, CIEMAT, USEF, CDTI, EADS, and DLR, Granada, Spain, June 30-July 2, 2004. Ishaque S. Mehdi, Robert Matson, and Arthur Brockschmidt, Boeing Phantom Works, Seattle, Washington 98124; Patrick J. George, NASA Glenn Research Center; and Mark O'Neill, ENTECH, Inc., Keller, Texas 76248. Responsible person, Partrick J. George, organization code 6910, 216-433-2353.

ABSTRACT:
This paper describes the design, development, fabrication, and test of a high performance, high voltage solar concentrator array. This assembly is believed to be the first ever terrestrial triple-junction-cell solar array rated at over 1 kW. The concentrator provides over 200 W/square meter power output at a nominal 600 Vdc while operating under terrestrial sunlight. Space-quality materials and fabrication techniques were used for the array, and the 3005 meter elevation installation below the Tropic of Cancer allowed testing as close as possible to space deployment without an actual launch. The array includes two concentrator modules, each with a 3 square meter aperture area. Each concentrator module uses a linear Fresnel lens to focus sunlight onto a photovoltaic receiver that uses 240 series-connected triple-junction solar cells. Operation of the two receivers in series can provide 1200 Vdc which would be adequate for the "direct drive" of some ion engines or microwave transmitters in space. Lens aperture width is 84 cm and the cell active width is 3.2 cm, corresponding to a geometric concentration ratio of 26X. The evaluation includes the concentrator modules, the solar cells, and the materials and techniques used to attach the solar cells to the receiver heat sink. For terrestrial applications, a finned aluminum extrusion was used for the heat sink for the solar cells, maintaining a low cell temperature so that solar cell efficiency remains high.

SUBJECT TERMS:
Solar arrays; Photovoltaic conversion; Solar energy conversion; Satellite power transmission

NUMBER OF PAGES:
15

PDF AVAILABLE FROM URL:
2004/TM-2004-213361.pdf ( 543 KB )
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