Development of high voltage power system for SSPS
- Paper number
IAC-06-C3.2.02
- Author
Prof. Kazuhiro Toyoda, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan
- Coauthor
Dr. Minoru Iwata, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan
- Coauthor
Prof. Mengu Cho, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Space solar power system (SSPS) has been developed as an innovative power generation system for sending from space to earth. The SSPS consists of an energy transfer system and a large number of solar cells. The SSPS generates large electricity on solar cells to send useful energy to earth. This large power needs high voltage for generating electricity. In space, it is very danger for spacecrafts to have high voltage device exposed to space because of interaction between spacecrafts and space plasma. It is known that a discharge can occur on solar cells when the metal parts of cells have negative potential under a few hundred volts. The engineering test satellite of SSPS has over 400V to generate the electric power of MW. When a power satellite is operated at 400V, the minimum potential of satellite becomes -400V with respect to space plasma and causes discharge. The discharge leads to many kinds of troubles such as EMI, degrading of cells, sustained arc, and so on. To avoid this kind of discharge on solar cells, we have developed high voltage solar array which can be operated at 400V without discharges. As for energy transfer system, it is planed that a microwave is utilized. If solar cells detect microwave, discharge may occur in space. We investigated the interference between microwave and solar cells.
- Abstract document