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Ganapathi, G.

Publications and source records attributed to Ganapathi, G..

Low-Cost, Light Weight, Thin Film Solar Concentrator

This research addresses a cost barrier towards achieving a solar thermal collector system with an installed cost of $75/sq m and meet the Department of Energy's (DOE's) performance targets for optical errors, operations during windy conditions and lifetime. Current concentrators can cost as much as 40-50% of the total installed costs for a CSP plant. In order to reduce the costs from current $200-$250/sq m, it is important to focus on the overall system. The reflector surface is a key cost driver, and our film-based polymer reflector will help significantly in achieving DOE's cost target of $75/sq m. The ease of manufacturability, installation and replacement make this technology a compelling one to develop. This technology can be easily modified for a variety of CSP options including heliostats, parabolic dishes and parabolic troughs.

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)↗

Development of vapor phase hydrogen peroxide sterilization process for spacecraft applications

This paper will present test data and discussion on the work we are conducting at JPL to address the following issues: 1) efficacy of sterilization process; 2) diffusion of hydrogen peroxide under sterilization process conditions into hard to reach places; 3) materials and components compatibility with the sterilization process and 4) development of methodology to protect sensitive components from hydrogen peroxide vapor.

hydrogen peroxide sterilization spacecraft↗

Performance of the Xenon Feed System on Deep Space One

Propulsion for the Deep Space One (DS1) spacecraft is provided by a xenon ion engine. Xenon is stored in a supercritical state and is delivered as a low pressure gas to the thruster and two cathodes by a Xenon Feed System (XFS).

Deep↗