无线输电技术与卫星太阳能电站的发展前景

文章简要叙述了无线输电和卫星太阳能电站的概念,特别强调了无线输电技术和建造卫星太阳能电站的科学技术意义和深远的战略意义;扼要介绍分析了国外在该领域的研究进展;概括叙述了建造卫星太阳能电站的技术经济性及科技界共同关心的几个问题;充分肯定了它的科学技术研究价值、应用前景和未来所带来的巨大的社会经济效益。     

空间太阳能电站构想及其相关技术的发展

文章介绍了太阳功率卫星（SPS）的发展背景、基本原理和系统构成,分析了实现SPS的主要技术条件。通过分析目前国际上建设SPS所开展的实验及其相关技术的发展,以期对中国未来发展空间太阳能电站技术提供借鉴。     

Study on Multi-Rotary Joints Space Power Satellite Concept

The Space Power Satellite(SPS) would be a huge spacecraft capturing the power of solar radiation in space and to supply electric power to the electric grid on the ground. The SPS concept was proposed by Dr. Peter Glaser in 1968. SPS have been studied now for exactly fifty years by many scientists in various countries. It has been regarded as one of the most promising energy projects of the future and has been attracting more attention in recent years. More and more Chinese scholars and experts are paying attention to the development of SPS. Due to the huge size, immense mass and high power of such a satellite system, there are many technical difficulties which exist to realize SPS. In this paper, recent SPS research and development activities are reviewed first. Various SPS concepts are analyzed and compared. The primary scheme of the Multi-Rotary joint SPS(MR-SPS) is described. The main feature is that the huge solar array comprising many separate small solar sub-arrays and each solar sub-array has two middle power rotary joints. So, the most challenging technology, the high-power rotary joint, is simplified by using many middlepower rotary joints hence the possibility of a single-point failure of a single rotary joint is avoided. This enables easy assembly of the modular solar arrays. Finally some key technologies of MR-SPS are analyzed.     

空间太阳能电站高低压混合供电系统设计

在调研美国NASA空间太阳能电站(SPS)供配电相关方案的基础上,针对空间太阳能电站平台设备和有效载荷设备两种不同的供电特性要求,提出将高低压混合供电技术应用于空间太阳能电站的供电系统设计。该设计在满足高效对地供电传输要求的同时,能够确保航天器平台自身的稳定、可靠运行。文章介绍了高低压混合供电技术的原理和系统构成;针对系统高于目前在轨卫星6个数量级的超高压需求,分析了高压电缆和高压继电器研制的可行性,得出高压电缆的重点研究方向,即通过材料及结构优化来减小质量、增加散热、减小弯曲半径等,高压继电器的研究方向为研制高压混合继电器(EMPC)中适用于航天任务的高压固态功率管;调研分析了目前常用的空间等离子体被动防护技术和主动防护技术,通过比较,说明主动防护技术更适用于空间太阳能电站的超高压系统,可为我国建设超大功率空间太阳能电站提供技术参考。     

European Sail Tower SPS concept

Based on a DLR-study in 1998/99 on behalf of ESA/ESTEC called “System Concepts, Architectures and Technologies for Space Exploration and Utilization (SE&U)” a new design for an Earth-orbiting Solar Power Satellite (SPS) has been developed. The design is called “European Sail Tower SPS” and consists mainly of deployable sail-like structures derived from the ongoing DLR/ESA solar sail technology development activity. Such a SPS satellite features an extremely light-weight and large tower-like orbital system and could supply Europe with significant amounts of electrical power generated by photovoltaic cells and subsequently transmitted to Earth via microwaves. In order to build up the sail tower, 60 units - each consisting of a pair of square-shaped sails - are moved from LEO to GEO with electric propulsion and successively assembled in GEO robotically on a central strut. Each single sail has dimensions of 150m × 150 m and is automatically deployed, using four diagonal light-weight carbon fiber (CFRP) booms which are initially rolled up on a central hub. The electric thrusters for the transport to GEO could also be used for orbit and attitude control of the assembled tower which has a total length of about 15 km and would be mainly gravity gradient stabilized. Employing thin film solar cell technology, each sail is used as a solar array and produces an electric power in orbit of about 3.7 MW_e. A microwave antenna with a diameter of 1 km transmits the power to a 10 km rectenna on the ground. The total mass of this 450 MW SPS is about 2100 tons. First estimates indicate that the costs for one kWh delivered in this way could compete with present day energy costs, if launch costs would decrease by two orders of magnitude. Furthermore, mass production and large numbers of installed SPS systems must be assumed in order to lower significantly the production costs and to reduce the influence of the expensive technology development. The paper presents the technical concept and an economic assessment as well as results of a recent solar sail deployment ground demonstration at DLR's facilities in Cologne.     

多旋转关节空间太阳能电站概念方案设计

对于国际上典型的空间太阳能电站概念方案进行了分析,在此基础上提出了一种新的概念方案--多旋转关节空间太阳能电站,并给出总体构型和主要分系统初步方案设计结果。该方案采用多个相互独立的太阳电池子阵代替了传统的整体式太阳电池阵,以多个中等功率的导电旋转关节替代传统的极高功率的旋转关节,不仅解决了传统空间太阳能电站方案中的极大功率导电旋转关节技术难题,还可以避免导电关节的单点失效问题,模块化的设计也使得系统的组装和构建更加可行。     

The USSR and space power plants

The American idea of a Solar Power Satellite was proposed for the first time in 1968 by Peter Glaser in a famous article in Science. This concept has since been the subject of many theoretical studies, and of some limited practical studies (mainly about microwave energy transmission) in the USA with funding from NASA and the Department of Energy (DOE). Some evaluations have been also conducted in Western Europe, particularly within the European Space Agency (ESA). But very little is generally known about the attitude towards SPS of the second main space power: the USSR. Soviet literature on SPS is much less abundant, but it does exist. Very interesting articles on the subject have been written by leading Soviet space experts. Some of these articles are analysed here, and the practical meanings of the ex[ressed opinions, generally very favourable, are investigated in view of the growing Soviet space capability.     

模块化多旋转关节空间太阳能电站方案设计

文章基于多旋转关节空间太阳能电站（MR-SPS）方案,以降低远距离高压电力传输技术难度为核心,提出一种更新的模块化多旋转关节空间太阳能电站概念。该方案在分布式太阳电池分阵和多导电旋转关节基础上,对于微波发射天线阵也进行了模块化设计和分布式布局,实现了太阳电池分阵和微波发射天线分阵的一一对应,形成多个独立的太阳能发电与能量传输模块,通过模块的扩展实现整个空间太阳能电站。该方案大幅简化了空间电力传输与管理的复杂性和在轨组装的难度。同时各个模块完全独立,组装后即可单独工作,也提高了系统的可靠性。     

SPS — time for a pilot plant

Scientists have expended much energy researching SPS but their theories have never yet been realistically tested. It is time for this to change and SPS 2000 — a Japanese-sponsored project to construct and operate a pilot plant to supply electricity to residents of equatorial zones — could provide the means. The project and its benefits are described and the political—economic imperatives for undertaking it presented. The author argues that there are cogent — and practical — reasons for funding a pilot plant, especially given the vast sums spent on other space activities, and on nuclear power, although the latter has never lived up to expectations.     

Space manufacturing in the construction of solar power satellites

This paper deals with ongoing research work concerning energy budget and cost of the solar Satellite Power System (SPS).The fundamental model of such a total system including ground and space facilities, transportation vehicles, power satellites and rectennas is presented. The main purpose of this model is to examine the applicability of different construction scenarios to allow comparison under nearly identical constraints.Using this model in a first attempt the blankets—meaning the main part of the space segment by weight, energy investment needs and cost—are chosen representatively for the energy and cost comparison of two construction alternatives of the same SPS concept. These construction alternatives are defined just by ground and space based manufacturing of the solar blankets, while all other subsystems, operations and the transportation profiles are considered to be kept the same.It can be shown that the energy “payback” time does not only depend on the SPS concept selected but also very much on the construction and implementation scenario. The cost comparison of these alternative approaches presents not very significant differences but advantages for the space manufacturing option with potential higher differences for a less conservative approach which may apply benefits of space manufacturing meaning, for example, considerable mass savings in space.Some preliminary results are discussed and an outlook is given over the next steps to be investigated, comprising the extension of the fundamental model to include use of lunar raw materials.     

International coordination of space solar power related activities

Because the need for energy is global, and many energy networks are already interdependent, because no one country has sufficient technological capability or sufficient funds to provide a space solar powered solution on its own, and because any such solution will require international regulation, international coordination will be vital to any attempt to produce energy for Earth from space. This will be made easier by the fact that work on the subject has already been widely publicized and distributed and cooperative efforts have already been made. Various coordinating approaches are described and the need to forge partnerships between government, industry and academia — with greater involvement of all non-space groups concerned with energy — is emphasized. A “terracing approach” to the actual implementation of SPS is suggested and outlined.     

Scenarios which may lead to the rise of an asteroid-based technical civilisation

In a previous paper, the author described a hypothetical development path of technical civilisations which has the following stages: planet dwellers, asteroid dwellers, interstellar travellers, interstellar space dwellers. In this paper, several scenarios are described which may cause the rise of an asteroid-based technical civilisation. Before such a transition may take place, certain space technologies must be developed fully (now these exist only in very preliminary forms): closed-cycle biological life support systems, space manufacturing systems, electrical propulsion systems. After mastering these technologies, certain events may provide the necessary financial means and social impetus for the foundation of the first asteroid-based colonies. In the first scenario, a rich minority group becomes persecuted and they decide to leave the Earth. In the second scenario, a "cold war"-like situation exists and the leaders of the superpowers order the creation of asteroid-based colonies to show off their empires' technological (and financial) grandiosity. In the third scenario, the basic situation is similar to the second one, but in this case the asteroids are not just occupied by the colonists. With several decades of hard work, an asteroid can be turned into a kinetic energy weapon which can provide the same (or greater) threat as the nuclear arsenal of a present superpower. In the fourth scenario, some military asteroids are moved to Earth-centred orbits and utilised as "solar power satellites" (SPS). This would be a quite economical solution because a "military asteroid" already contains most of the important components of an SPS (large solar collector arrays, power distribution devices, orbit modifying rocket engine), one should add only a large microwave transmitter.     

基于功能单元的分层诊断技术研究及在航天器中的应用

复杂系统多故障诊断的计算复杂性一直是一个难题。现给出了一种定性诊断模型:将功能单元引入到系统建模中并与结构抽象技术相结合构建分层诊断模型(SPS树)。推理时运用分层诊断策略及相关诊断定理,减少了多故障诊断的计算量,提高了效率。此方法在某卫星电源系统中得到了应用。证明该方法诊断速度快,诊断结果完备,可以实现对未知故障的诊断,适用于卫星这类复杂系统的多故障诊断。     

空间太阳能电站技术的可行性研究

简要介绍世界空间太阳能电站的太阳发电卫星／太阳能发电（ＳＰＳ／ＬＳＰ）系统两种设想及相关技术的可行性研究与发展情况。总体说，实现空间电站所需无线电能传输技术（ＷＰＴ）、太阳电池技术及空间技术已基本成熟，可望于下世纪初建立初步的空间太阳能发电系统。     

绳系太阳能发电卫星姿态机动的主动振动控制

针对绳系太阳能发电卫星大角度回转机动时太阳能板的振动抑制问题,提出了主姿态控制和基于绳中张力的主动振动控制技术相结合的复合控制方法。建立了绳系太阳能发电卫星系统的动力学方程,并基于任务函数控制算法设计了主控制器保证卫星姿态的渐近稳定和挠性结构振动的衰减性;考虑到绳的非线性特性,基于任务函数控制算法设计了绳系卫星系统的主动振动抑制辅助控制器来抑制挠性结构的振动。设计的同时证明了系统的稳定性。将该方法应用于绳系卫星的大角度单轴回转机动的仿真研究,结果表明:该方法不仅能够使绳系卫星完成姿态机动,而且能够有效地抑制太阳能板的振动。     

Recent advances in lunar base simulation

This article reports about the results of the latest computer runs of a lunar base simulation model. The lunar base consists of 20 facilities for lunar mining, processing and fabrication. The infrastructure includes solar and nuclear power plants, a central workshop, habitat and farm. Lunar products can be used for construction of solar power systems (SPS) or other spacecraft at several space locations. The simulation model evaluates the mass, energy and manpower flows between the elements of the system as well as system cost and cost of products on an annual basis for a given operational period. The 1983 standard model run over a fifty-years life cycle (beginning about the year 2000) was accomplished for a mean annual production volume of 78 180 Mg of hardware products for export resulting in average specific manufacturing cost of 8.4 $/kg and total annual cost of 1.25 billion dollars during the life cycle. The reference space transportation system uses LOX/LH₂ propulsion for which at the average 210 500 Mg LOX per year is produced on the moon. The sensitivity analysis indicates the importance of bootstrapping as well as the influence of market size, space transportation cost and specific resources demand on the mean lunar manufacturing cost. The option using lunar resources turns out to be quite attractive from the economical viewpoint. Systems analysis by this lunar base model and further trade-offs will be a useful tool to confirm this.     

International cooperation - how to proceed

As part of a project exploring ways that international cooperation can maximize the benefits of space activities in the new political climate of the 1990s, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has been organizing expert workshops on the subject. The latest of these, held in December 1994, focused on five areas: global space systems services; human and robotic exploration; space transportation; solar power to Earth; and international peacekeeping. It is only in the last few years that recommendations on the latter topic could realistically have been put forward and, as a prelude to our presentation of the Executive Summary of the report produced by AIAA, two of the 60-plus participants drawn from 15 countries, Robert Fuhrmann and Jürgen Wild, discuss the implications of this new found openness over international security and analyse the background to its genesis.     

航天器大型舱段柔性对接技术研究

针对航天器大型舱段的自动柔性对接需求,基于并联调姿平台(6SPS)的舱段柔性对接技术开展研究。采用6SPS作为舱段位姿调整装置,在其6个支链上设置力传感器,测量每个支链所受的轴向力。在柔性对接控制中,根据负载质量特性及调姿平台姿态实时解算每个支链上由负载重力引起的轴向力,作为理论力;将实际测得的支链力与该理论力比较,进行力随动控制并调整支链长度,实现力反馈下的柔性对接控制。试验证明了力随动控制能实现根据支链力变化实时调整调姿平台位姿,满足舱段柔性对接的需求。     

Current legal issues pertaining to space solar power systems

This paper discusses a range of legal issues that need to be considered in planning for a space solar power system. Because objects placed in space are inherently international, the paper primarily looks at international law that affects launching, construction, operation, property rights, the environment, communication and liability. International coordination early in the planning process is urged to make space solar powers systems a reality more speedily.     

毫米波国家功率基准及其国际关键比对

文章介绍了一种基于热敏电阻功率座的对称双线结构的矩形波导微量热计的设计和传递标准有效效率计算方法。给出了功率基准热电堆测量曲线及该频段毫米波功率传递标准量值结果。这种新的微量热计将作为我国毫米波功率基准,它将我国的毫米波功率测量能力提高到了75GHz。国际比对是国际多边证书互认的基础,是我国产品进入国际市场准入的质量认证基础,国际关键比对是比对活动中的核心活动。文章介绍了我国参加毫米波WR-22（33GHz-50GHz）国际关键比对情况。