Tandem solar cells with 31% (AM0) and 37% (AM1.5D) energyconversion efficiencies

The authors demonstrate that the efficiency of GaAs satellite solar cells can be increased to 31% (AM0) with two straightforward modifications. First, the wire grid reflection losses on the GaAs cell can be eliminated by attaching and aligning a thin grooved cover slide. The grooves in this cover slide deflect the incident light rays away from the wire grid lines into the cell active area, increasing the efficiency from 22% to 24%. The second modification involves making the GaAs cell transparent to the infrared energy that normally is wasted and then placing an infrared sensitive GaSb booster cell behind the GaAs cell. This increases the AM0 solar energy conversion efficiency from 24% to 31%. The GaAs/GaSb tandem solar cells have conversion efficiencies of 37% if used for terrestrial (AM1.5) rather than space (AM0) solar electric power systems, high enough that utility-scale solar electric power may someday be economical     

Lightweight (AlGaAs)GaAs/CuInSe2 tandem junction solarcells for space applications

Mechanically stacked tandem cells consisting of GaAs thin-film upper cells and CuInSe₂ thin-film lower cells have been developed to meet the increasing power needs projected for future spacecraft. The authors report the fabrication of the first highly efficient lightweight GaAs/CuInSe₂ tandem cell on a 2-mil thick substrate, update recent performance improvements in thin-film GaAs/CuInSe₂ tandem cells, and discuss their application to space power systems. The efficiency of 4-cm² cells has improved to 21.6% AM0, the highest ever reported for a thin-film photovoltaic cell. Lightweight 4-cm² tandem cells have been successfully fabricated with efficiencies as high as 20.8%. These cells weighed about 180 mg without optimized substrate trimming. Radiation and operating temperature effects on GaAs/CuInSe₂ tandem cells are also discussed, and an interconnect scheme to form a voltage-matched string is described     

Large area solar cells for future space power systems

Space silicon solar cell technology has matured to the extent that large-area planar silicon cells can be fabricated in sizes up to 8 cm×8 cm with efficiencies up to approximately 15%. In order to achieve substantially higher efficiencies, cells based on GaAs are required. It is shown that, subject to certain boundary conditions, the efficiency of GaAs/Ge cells can reach 24% when used in the dual-junction configuration or approximately 19.5% if the Ge substrate is passive. The electrooptical properties of these cells are reviewed, and prospects for achieving these efficiency goals are presented. Experimental performance data are given     

GaAs系列太阳电池技术与发展

GaAs系列太阳电池是目前太空应用最广泛的电源,这一系列太阳电池已成为太阳电池领域的研究热点.介绍了GaAs太阳电池的研究历程和最新技术动态.     

升浮一体飞行器总体参数设计方法

临近空间飞行器近年来得到了广泛的关注和研究。为克服传统飞艇和太阳能飞机尺寸大、抗风能力差的缺点,本文提出了一种升浮一体飞行器概念方案,并对其总体参数设计方法进行研究。以能量平衡分析为核心,建立了太阳能电池系统、燃料电池系统、推进系统等子系统的数学模型,给出了适合于该飞行器的总体参数设计方法,并对总体设计参数进行了研究。结果表明,升浮一体飞行器相对于传统飞艇,体积下降了53%,长度下降了22%,起飞重量下降了4%。相对于固定翼太阳能飞机,翼展下降了52%,机翼面积减小了56%,起飞重量下降了3.5%。该类飞行器总体参数对飞行速度非常敏感,飞行速度从30 m/s提高至40 m/s时,起飞重量增加约1倍,艇体体积增大77%。提高太阳能电池、燃料电池和螺旋桨效率可有效降低起飞重量,且升浮一体飞行器比传统飞艇对上述参数更敏感。     

Ultra-lightweight space power from hybrid thin-film solar cells

The development of hybrid inorganic/organic thin-film solar cells on flexible, lightweight, space-qualified, durable substrates provides an attractive solution for space power generation with high mass specific power (W/kg). The high-volume, low-cost fabrication potential of organic cells will allow for square miles of solar cell production at one-tenth the cost of conventional inorganic materials. Plastic solar cells take a minimum of storage space and can be inflated or unrolled for deployment. We explore a cross-section of NASA in-house and sponsored research efforts that aim to provide new hybrid technologies that include both inorganic and polymer materials as active and substrate materials. For NASA applications, any solar cell or array technology must not only meet weight and AMO efficiency goals, but also must be durable enough to survive launch and space environments. Also, balance of system technologies must be developed to take advantage of ultra-lightweight solar arrays in power generation systems.     

Low cost X-band power amplifier MMIC

A family of X-band MMIC power amplifiers using a low cost GaAs pHEMT process is reported. The stepper-based volume 0.5 micron and 0.25 micron GaAs pHEMT processes utilize 4 inter-level metallisation and four dielectric layers for high frequency performance whilst maintaining the economies of scale of 150mm (6") diameter substrates. The fabricated GaAs X-Band PA MMICs exhibit SW to low NY output power under pulsed conditions; 16dB of power gain and power added efficiencies approaching 40%. Excellent repeatability and high yields over a number of wafers have been demonstrated. The design and GaAs process approach taken here with DUV stepper and 150 mm wafer diameter will lead to a significant cost reduction for high performance power amplifier MMICs up to 30GHz.     

Silicon Solar Cell Performance at High Intensities

The theoretical and experimental work performed since 1960 in the area of high-intensity and high-temperature operation of silicon and gallium arsenide photovoltaic devices is reviewed. Test results for conventional 5-grid silicon cells, for specially designed 13-grid silicon cells, and for a GaAs cell are presented parametrically for the illumination intensity range from 0.07 to 2.8 W/cm2 and the temperature range from 30 to 1 50°C. The data cover the 3 points on the currentvoltage characteristic required to reconstruct the full characteristic in the power-generating quadrant. The 13-grid silicon cells showed much better performance than the GaAs cell.     

太阳能模型飞机的设计方法研究

从太阳能模型飞机的发展状况，分析了太阳能电池应用在航模飞机上的技术难点，针对机载平台、太阳能电池应用、推进系统三方面提出了合理的解决优化方案。实践表明了在光照充足的情况下，能达到只依靠太阳能电池作为动力，实现滑跑起飞的要求。     

考虑局部遮挡的太阳能无人机能源控制

针对太阳能无人机在飞行状态下可能出现的太阳能电池局部遮挡情况，开展相应的太阳能电池最大功率点追踪算法和能源控制研究。通过将发光亮度引入相对吸引力计算过程对萤火虫算法进行改进，实现了局部阴影情况下太阳能电池最大功率点的高效追踪。以此为基础，设计了考虑局部遮挡情况下太阳能无人机的太阳能电池/蓄电池混合能源状态机控制规则。以"蒲公英I"无人机为例，建立了太阳能电池阵列模型，开展了考虑局部遮挡情况下太阳能电池最大功率点追踪仿真实验；基于"蒲公英I"飞行剖面，开展了考虑局部遮挡情况的混合能源控制仿真试验。研究结果表明：改进的萤火虫算法可以实现在局部阴影情况下太阳能电池最大功率点的有效跟踪，与萤火虫算法相比收敛时间更短、且功率波动幅度更小；采用改进萤火虫算法和状态机能源管理策略，在考虑局部遮挡的飞行状态下可以实现太阳能电池/蓄电池之间的合理功率分配与控制。     

薄膜太阳能电池光电转换材料研究进展

在对太阳能电池基本原理进行介绍的基础上,综述了近年来光电转换材料的发展情况,重点对各种材料的优缺点、制备方法以及未来的发展趋势进行探讨。     

Silicon Solar Cells at Low Temperature

Electrical characteristics of n-p silicon solar cells have been obtained experimentally over the temperature range of +28 to ?175° and for illumination intensities from 140 to 1.5 mW/cm2. Critical parameters and their distribution are presented for several hundred solar cells from various manufacturers. The effect of cell selection either to a minimum power output at 28° at 5 mW/cm2 or to a minimum open-circuit voltage at ?128° at 5.16 mW/cm2 upon the magnitude and distribution of the critical parameters is investigated. Considerable differences are noted, not just between cells, but also between lots from various manufacturers. Correlation analysis reveals no parameter which when measured at room temperature will predict the power output at low temperatures. This is due to a number of anomalies of the output characteristics at low temperature. These are a lack of the open voltage to continue to increase with decreasing temperature and a double break in the current-voltage characteristics. In addition, some cells show low shunt resistance which makes them have a poor performance at low intensities.     

Investigation on Thermal Contact Conductance Based on Data Analysis Method of Reliability

The method of reliability is proposed for the investigation of thermal contact conductance (TCC) in this study. A new definition is introduced, namely reliability thermal contact conductance (RTCC), which is defined as the TCC value that meets the reliability design requirement of the structural materials under consideration. An experimental apparatus with the compensation heater to test the TCC is introduced here. A practical engineering example is utilized to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach. By using a statistical regression model along with experimental data obtained from the interfaces of the structural materials GH4169 and K417 used in aero-engine, the estimate values and the confidence level of TCC and RTCC values are studied and compared. The results show that the testing values of TCC increase with interface pressure and the proposed RTCC model matches the test results better at high interface pressure.     

Design and integration of a solar AMTEC power system with anadvanced global positioning satellite

A 1,200-W solar AMTEC (alkali metal thermal-to-electric conversion) power system concept was developed and integrated with an advanced global positioning system (GPS) satellite. The critical integration issues for the SAMTEC with the GPS subsystems included: (1) packaging within the Delta II launch vehicle envelope; (2) deployment and start-up operations for the SAMTEC; (3) SAMTEC operation during all mission phases; (4) satellite field of view restrictions with satellite operations; and (5) effect of the SAMTEC requirements on other satellite subsystems. The SAMTEC power system was compared with a conventional planar solar array/battery power system to assess the differences in system weight, size, and operations, Features of the design include the use of an advanced multitube, vapor anode AMTEC cell design with 24% conversion efficiency, and a direct solar insolation receiver design with integral LiF salt canisters for energy storage to generate power during the maximum solar eclipse cycle, The modular generator design consists of an array of multitube AMTEC cells arranged into a parallel/series electrical network with built-in cell redundancy. Our preliminary assessment indicates that the solar generator design is scaleable over a 500 to 2,500-W range. No battery power is required during the operational phase of the GPS mission. SAMTEC specific power levels greater than 5 We/kg and 160 We/m² are anticipated for a mission duration of 10 to 12 years in orbits with high natural radiation backgrounds     

Numerical investigation of flow mechanisms of tandem impeller inside a centrifugal compressor

This study numerically investigated a single stage centrifugal compressor ‘‘Radiver’’ with a wedge diffuser and several tandem-designed impellers to explore the flow phenomena within the tandem impeller and the potential to enhance compressor performance. The results demonstrate that tandem design and clocking fraction (λ_s) significantly affects the compressor performance. The compressor stage with tandem impellers of Series A of boundary layer growth interruption alone are observed to have a widely operating range but efficiency and total pressure ratio penalty compared with that of conventional impeller. The tandem impeller with at least the same impeller efficiency as the conventional design is considered as a critical design criteria so that further modification process based on the flow characteristic of tandem impeller is necessary. In order to restrain the inducer wake and exducer shock losses, parameters modification of blade angle and thickness distributions are necessary and the modified tandem impeller of Series B is obtained. The modified tandem impeller with 25% clocking arrangement shows an 8.45% stall margin increase and maintains the total pressure ratio and efficiency as the conventional design, which proves the potential of tandem impeller to improve compressor stage performance. It is noteworthy that the tandem impellers of Radiver have not shown obviously balanced exit flow field and the fundamental mechanism of stall margin extending of tandem impeller lies on the improved impeller/diffuser matching performance resulting from the incidence angle variation at diffuser inlet.     

Design of solar high altitude long endurance aircraft for multi payload & operations

Research is being carried out at the Turin Polytechnic University with the aim of designing a HAVE/UAV (High Altitude Very-long Endurance/Unmanned Air Vehicle). The vehicle should be able to climb to an altitude of 17–20 km by taking advantage of direct sun radiation and maintaining a level flight; during the night, a fuel cells energy storage system would be used. A computer program has been developed to carry out a parametric study for the platform design. The solar radiation change over one year, altitude, masses and efficiencies of the solar and fuel cells, as well as the aerodynamic performances have all been taken into account. The parametric studies have shown how the efficiency of the fuel and solar cells and mass have the most influence on the platform dimensions. High modulus CFRP has been used in designing the structure in order to minimize the airframe weight. A Blended Wing Body (BWB) configuration of Solar HALE Aircraft Multi Payload & Operation (SHAMPO) with 8 brushless electric motors has been developed, as a result of the parametric study. The BWB solution, compared with conventional designs, seems to provide the best compromise between performance, availability of surfaces for solar-cells, and volume for multi-payload purposes. Several profiles and wing plans have been analyzed using the CFD software Xfoil and Vsaero. The airfoil coordinates at the root and along the wing span as well as the wing planform were optimised to achieve the best efficiency. A FEM analysis was carried out using the Msc/Patran/Nastran code to predict the static and dynamic behaviour of the UAV structure.     

Flexible Solar Cell Arrays for Increased Space Power

The importance of solar cells for space power supplies continues with increased emphasis. The need for advances in the design of solar cell arrays becomes more pressing as the requirement for increased power levels is apparent. This paper discusses a flexible solar cell concept, includes a brief history of the development, describes a conceptual design for a 20-kW array, giving weight breakdown, and describes an existing design effort.     

Thermionic/AMTEC cascade converter concept for high-efficiencyspace power

This paper presents trade studies that address the use of the thermionic/AMTEC cell-a cascaded, high efficiency, static power conversion concept that appears well-suited to space power applications. Both the thermionic and AMTEC power conversion approaches have been shown to be promising candidates for space power. Thermionics offers system compactness via modest efficiency at high heat rejection temperatures, and AMTEC offers high efficiency at modest heat rejection temperature. From a thermal viewpoint, the two are ideally suited for cascaded power conversion: thermionic heat rejection and AMTEC heat source temperatures are essentially the same. In addition to realizing conversion efficiencies potentially as high as 35-40% such a cascade offers the following perceived benefits: Survivability-capable of operation in the Van Allen belts; Simplicity-static conversion, no moving parts; Long lifetime-no inherent life-limiting mechanisms identified; Technology readiness-Large thermionic database; AMTEC efficiencies of 18% currently being demonstrated, with more growth potential available; and Technology growth-applicable to both solar thermal and reactor-based nuclear space power systems. Mechanical approaches and thermal/electric matching criteria for integrating thermionics and AMTEC into a single conversion device are described. Focusing primarily on solar thermal space power applications, parametric trends are presented to show the performance and cost potential that should be achievable with present-day technology in cascaded thermionic/AMTEC systems     

ATS-6 Solar Cell Flight Experiment After 325 Days in Synchronous Orbit

Preliminary Applications Technology Satellite-6 (ATS-6) solar cell flight experiment data through the first 325 days in synchronous orbit is present. The experiment is transmitting data on 16 different solar cell/cover glass configurations. The experiment is designed to study the effect of this orbit on select solar cells and cover glass parameters such as solar cell thickness and base resistivity, cover glass thickness variation, new cover and adhesive processes and materials such as 7940 and 7070 integral covers and the fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) covers, the COMSAT "violet" cell, and backside irradiation effects. The in-spece solar cell data indicate short circuit currents are higher by 1 to 8 percent than measurements made with solar simulations; maximum power varied between -1 to +6 percent . Degradation of /sc due to ultraviolet effects was determined to be about 2 percent after 50 days in orbit. All cells performed well through 325 days in orbit, except the FEP-covered cells, which appear to have increased their rate of degradation during the first eclipse season.     

太阳能/氢能无人机总体设计与能源管理策略研究

针对小型低空长航时电动无人机需求,给出了太阳能/氢能混合能源动力系统集成方案和小型低空长航时无人机构型。针对典型任务剖面,综合考虑太阳能电池和氢燃料电池特性,提出了一种考虑全机重量能量耦合关系的总体设计方法和任务剖面驱动的能源管理策略;建立了能源系统模型,给出了能源控制流程,开发了能源管理仿真平台。以1.5 kg任务载荷为例,完成了无人机总体方案设计,仿真分析了各种能源特性对飞行结果的影响。结果表明:能源管理策略能够根据任务剖面的要求合理配置能源系统的功率,满足各阶段的功率需求;无人机在冬至日航时为21 h、夏至日可实现跨昼夜飞行;在能源系统重量相同情况下,该混合能源无人机的航时分别是纯锂电池无人机和燃料电池无人机的5.5倍和1.2倍。