Development of high voltage solar array for large space platforms
- Paper number
IAC-05-C3.2.04
- Author
Dr. Satoshi Hosoda, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan
- Coauthor
Mr. Teppei Okumura, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan
- Coauthor
Dr. Jeongho Kim, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan
- Coauthor
Prof. Mengu Cho, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan
- Coauthor
Dr. Kazuhiro Toyoda, Japan
- Year
2005
- Abstract
In order to realize 400 volts operation in LEO, arcing caused by interaction between the spacecraft and the surrounding LEO plasma must be overcome. We have been investigating a design of high voltage solar array. This paper is the summary report for all the tests. All coupons were designed along following strategies; (1) prevent ambient ions from breaking into triple junction (2) decrease the electric field at triple junction. All of them achieved good results for arc mitigation. Especially, the coupon with ion barrier film which made from ETFE (called "film coupon" ) has never suffered any arc. We carried out the tests under realistic orbit environment for the film coupon. The performed tests are as follows; endurance test for 30 years operation, debris impact, heat cycle, UV and AO exposure, film contamination, electro-static charging by contact, ambient pressure variation and arcing on substrate. It was confirmed that the covered film performed successfully in all the situations. This coupon has never arced in more than 25 hours which is equivalent to 1 % power degradation in 30 yeas operation. Also, the electric output changed little by the covered film contamination and degradation. No trigger arc occurred at all vacuum pressure and no charging by contact. With respect to debris impact, sufficient results were obtained with respect to resistance characteristics. It was confirmed that the film attachments was well support the heat cycle of ± 90 ∘C by reducing tension of film. The covered film had little damage even if the film support was hit directly. Conductive substrate suffered many arcs at -400V biased. Also, a sustained arc phenomenon between cells and substrate was induced by debris impact. The utilization of flexible substrate is adequate to application for 400V solar array in LEO environment.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-C3.2.04.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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