On–orbit Experience Of Performance Of High Efficiency Solar Cells
- Paper number
IAC-07-C3.2.02
- Author
Mr. Sudhakar Mandagaddi, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), ISAC, India
- Coauthor
Mr. Sankaran M, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), ISAC, India
- Coauthor
Dr. Raja Reddy M, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), ISAC, India
- Coauthor
Dr. Anil Agarwal, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), ISAC, India
- Coauthor
Mr. Srinivasa Murthy N, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), ISAC, India
- Coauthor
Mr. Srinivasa Murthy D, India
- Coauthor
Mr. Yesobu Bachu, India
- Year
2007
- Abstract
In the last 20 years large number of ISRO spacecrafts have been launched into both LEO and GEO orbits and put into operation in order to fulfill their specific multiyear missions. Different types of solar cells based on Silicon, and GaAs are used for building these spacecraft power generators. State of practice crystalline multijunction solar cells with 26 to 28% efficiency are primarily triple junction (GalnP/GaAs/Ge) solar cell structures grown on Ge single crystal wafers. These solar cells have been identified as one of the key technologies needed in 21st century to achieve highest solar cell conversion efficiency for space applications. ISRO has developed expertise in using state of the art advanced multijunction solar cells of 27.5% efficiency and has used about eighteen thousand solar cells for its both LEO and GEO operational spacecraft solar arrays. On-orbit performance of these high efficiency solar cells are presented in this paper. The configurations of these solar arrays are described. The electrical characteristics of these solar arrays are modeled after considering all the standard design factors such as particulate, ultraviolet degradations etc. and their in-orbit performance is predicted. The key parameters required for on-board performance analysis are obtained through spacecraft telemetry. The required correction factors are applied and the data is further processed to obtain the on-orbit performance of the solar array. The observed and the predicted performance are closely matching .
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-C3.2.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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