An ultralight concentrator photovoltaic system for space solar power harvesting
An ultralight concentrator photovoltaic system for space solar power harvesting
We present a detailed design treatment for a concentrating photovoltaic mini module subsystem with a specific power of up to 4.1 kW/kg for integration into a space solar power system. Concentrating designs are required to achieve specific power over 1 kW/kg with current high-efficiency III-V multijunction solar cells. The 15 sun, linear concentration concept detailed here reduces the system mass by replacing cell and radiation shield area with ultralight carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) optics. Reducing the cell size to 1 mm width as well as careful optimization of cell architecture and CFRP material and thickness are critical for maintaining cell temperatures under 100 C despite the concentration. We also describe ultralight multilayer optical coatings to increase the thermal emissivity of the concentrator surfaces and enhance radiative transfer for cell cooling, which is a critical technological component of the total system design.
Aerospace materials, Concentrating photovoltaics, Solar cells, Wireless power transmission, —Space-based solar power
443-451
Warmann, Emily C.
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Espinet-Gonzalez, Pilar
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Vaidya, Nina
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Loke, Samuel
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Naqavi, Ali
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Vinogradova, Tatiana
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Kelzenberg, Michael
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Leclerc, Christophe
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Gdoutos, Eleftherios
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Pellegrino, Sergio
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Atwater, Harry A.
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19 February 2020
Warmann, Emily C.
cf9bb80c-96cd-4e8b-9a66-18ffc8e1117b
Espinet-Gonzalez, Pilar
e560730c-28ca-489f-9132-4e14a4553cd1
Vaidya, Nina
aa741ed5-08f6-4d6c-8719-cdf727cd9e4b
Loke, Samuel
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Naqavi, Ali
eff0acba-842a-41ec-9d15-f3f31d634686
Vinogradova, Tatiana
bbca74ce-8ee4-4825-b523-b05b2972d2af
Kelzenberg, Michael
8be3db73-2853-4f80-8b94-c31bd6ce2381
Leclerc, Christophe
f2e0f982-45b1-45b4-b292-c693ca35fc86
Gdoutos, Eleftherios
c76b577f-c998-46ba-9918-ab52776e988a
Pellegrino, Sergio
39fed961-a2a9-434d-9f61-77485e85db76
Atwater, Harry A.
7a80880f-3d29-4959-bc3b-7a0c5001610e
Warmann, Emily C., Espinet-Gonzalez, Pilar, Vaidya, Nina, Loke, Samuel, Naqavi, Ali, Vinogradova, Tatiana, Kelzenberg, Michael, Leclerc, Christophe, Gdoutos, Eleftherios, Pellegrino, Sergio and Atwater, Harry A.
(2020)
An ultralight concentrator photovoltaic system for space solar power harvesting.
Acta Astronautica, 170 (5), .
(doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.12.032).
Abstract
We present a detailed design treatment for a concentrating photovoltaic mini module subsystem with a specific power of up to 4.1 kW/kg for integration into a space solar power system. Concentrating designs are required to achieve specific power over 1 kW/kg with current high-efficiency III-V multijunction solar cells. The 15 sun, linear concentration concept detailed here reduces the system mass by replacing cell and radiation shield area with ultralight carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) optics. Reducing the cell size to 1 mm width as well as careful optimization of cell architecture and CFRP material and thickness are critical for maintaining cell temperatures under 100 C despite the concentration. We also describe ultralight multilayer optical coatings to increase the thermal emissivity of the concentrator surfaces and enhance radiative transfer for cell cooling, which is a critical technological component of the total system design.
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 24 December 2019
e-pub ahead of print date: 27 January 2020
Published date: 19 February 2020
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This work has been supported by funding from the Northrop Grumman Corporation and the Caltech Space Solar Power Project.
Keywords:
Aerospace materials, Concentrating photovoltaics, Solar cells, Wireless power transmission, —Space-based solar power
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 485452
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/485452
ISSN: 0094-5765
PURE UUID: b413355c-6505-4d01-a926-fa893a1ec1e0
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Date deposited: 06 Dec 2023 17:49
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 04:04
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Contributors
Author:
Emily C. Warmann
Author:
Pilar Espinet-Gonzalez
Author:
Nina Vaidya
Author:
Samuel Loke
Author:
Ali Naqavi
Author:
Tatiana Vinogradova
Author:
Michael Kelzenberg
Author:
Christophe Leclerc
Author:
Eleftherios Gdoutos
Author:
Sergio Pellegrino
Author:
Harry A. Atwater
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