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At least 523 records · Page 29

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NASA NTRS1977

Efficiency calculations for Al/x/Ga/1-x/As-GaAs heteroface solar cells

A computer-assisted analysis of the Al(x)Ga(1-x)As-GaAs heteroface solar cell is done to find the dependence of cell efficiency on substrate doping level. Assumptions for carrier lifetime needed for the evaluation of efficiency are based on measurements of experimental Al(x)Ga(1-x)As-GaAs heteroface cells. The results show the doping range 10 to the 16th-17th power per cu cm to be the best for heteroface solar cells. Calculations based on a three-halves temperature dependence for lifetimes agree well with early experimental efficiency versus temperature measurements on GaAs cells, but conflict with earlier results for an Al(x)Ga(1-x)As-GaAs heteroface cell.

Sekela, A. M.↗

NASA NTRS1977

A theoretical study of the efficiency of the general circulation

The paper examines the problem of explaining the atmospheric efficiency, or equivalently, the rate of generation of available potential energy (APE) by diabatic heating. Attention is focused on determining the maximum possible rate of generation of APE and its accompanying temperature field, which does not require a knowledge of the atmospheric motions leading to temperature distribution. Qualitative and quantitative results indicate that the atmosphere may be operating within approximately a factor of 2 of its maximum efficiency. The general circulation may be operating at nearly its maximum efficiency.

Schulman, L. L.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Efficiency of electrically small antennas combined with matching networks

In applications where electrically small antennas are necessary and transmitter power is limited, the system efficiency may be a critical parameter in determining the feasibility of the system. The principle of conservation of energy is used to determine the efficiency of an antenna combined with a matching network composed of elements with finite quality factors. It is shown that conditions for maximum efficiency can be met by using a simple L section as the matching network. Illustrative examples concern a cryogenic loop antenna and a ferrite loaded loop antenna.

Smith, G. S.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Efficient numerical treatment of periodic systems with application to stability problems

Two efficient numerical methods for dealing with the stability of linear periodic systems are presented. Both methods combine the use of multivariable Floquet-Liapunov theory with an efficient numerical scheme for computing the transition matrix at the end of one period. The numerical properties of these methods are illustrated by applying them to the simple parametric excitation problem of a fixed end column. The practical value of these methods is shown by applying them to some helicopter rotor blade aeroelastic and structural dynamics problems. It is concluded that these methods are numerically efficient, general and practical for dealing with the stability of large periodic systems.

Friedmann, P.↗

NASA NTRS1977

An analysis of the Wheeler method for measuring the radiating efficiency of antennas

A model problem is formulated to evaluate the limitations imposed by the assumptions in the Wheeler or cap method for measuring the radiating efficiency of antennas. The antenna in the model is a circular loop and the radiation shield is a spherical metal shell. Calculated values of the actual efficiency of the antenna and the efficiency that would be measured using the Wheeler method are compared to determine the accuracy of the method and set guidelines for its application.

Smith, G. S.↗

NASA NTRS1977

High efficiency, long life terrestrial solar panel

The design of a high efficiency, long life terrestrial module was completed. It utilized 256 rectangular, high efficiency solar cells to achieve high packing density and electrical output. Tooling for the fabrication of solar cells was in house and evaluation of the cell performance was begun. Based on the power output analysis, the goal of a 13% efficiency module was achievable.

Chao, T.↗

NASA NTRS1976

A study of improvements in silicon solar cell efficiency due to various geometrical and doping modifications

This paper presents the results of continued studies of silicon solar cell operation and limitations. The objective of this paper is to report on geometrical and doping changes in silicon solar cells which result in predictions of high efficiencies. Efficiencies as high as 20 per cent (uncorrected for metal coverage and ohmic sheet resistance) have been calculated for optimized cells. The conditions required to achieve these efficiency values are discussed.

Dunbar, P. M.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Measuring concave diffraction grating efficiencies at grazing incidence

The efficiency of a concave diffraction grating in a given order is obtained by measuring the intensities of the diffracted and incident beams and taking their ratio. A valid measurement requires that both the incident and diffracted beams be collected by the detector. At grazing incidence, however, the diffracted beam may spread beyond the detector due to aberrations. In addition, the diffracted beams of consecutive orders may overlap so that unambiguous efficiency measurements cannot be made. The effect of aberrations on efficiency measurements has been studied, using ray tracing, for the geometry of the measuring instrument in use at the Naval Research Laboratory. This instrument is attached to a VUV monochromator which furnishes a diverging beam. The main effect of aberrations for this instrument is a spread of the diffracted beam in the direction of dispersion. The width of the diffracted beam is wavelength dependent and is minimal at the horizontal focus, spreading to longer and shorter wavelengths. Reducing the divergence of the incident beam reduces the spread but, for small radius gratings, not always sufficiently so that the entire diffracted beam can be collected by the detector. The distance from the detector to the grating can also be adjusted to aid in collecting all the diffracted beam.

Hunter, W. R.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Development of an Improved High Efficiency Thin Silicon Solar Cell

Breakage and front contact failure in high efficiency, textured ultrathin cells was reduced as a consequence of the introduction of process modifications. In a small production run, over one hundred ultrathin cells, having an average AMO efficiency of 13%, were fabricated from 10-25 ohm cm silicon. An in-house aluminum paste for back surface field formation was developed that resulted in cell efficiencies equivalent to those from commercial pastes. The quality of the back surface field was found to be dependent on the orientation of the silicon slice during alloying.

Storti, G.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Efficiency of tandem solar cell systems as function of temperature and solar energy concentration ratio

The results of a comprehensive theoretical analysis of tandem photovoltaic solar cells as a function of temperature and solar concentration ratio are presented. The overall efficiencies of tandem cell stacks consisting of as many as 24 cells having gaps in the 0.7 to 3.6 eV range were calculated for temperatures of 200, 300, 400, and 500 K and for illumination by an AMO solar spectrum having concentration ratios of 1, 100, 500, and 1000 suns. For ideal diodes (A = B = 1), the calculations show that the optimized overall efficiency has a limiting value eta sub opt of approximately 70 percent for T = 200 K and C = 1000; for T = 300 K and C = 1000, this limiting efficiency approaches 60 percent.

Gokcen, N. A.↗

NASA NTRS1978

High efficiency low cost solar cell power

A concept for generating high-efficiency, low-cost, solar-cell power is outlined with reference to solar cell parameters, optical concentrators, and thermal control procedures. A design for a 12.5-kw power module for space operation is discussed noting the optical system, spectrum splitter, light conversion system, cell cooling, power conditioner, and tracking mechanism. It is found that for an unconcentrated array, efficiency approaches 60% when ten or more bandgaps are used. For a 12-band system, a computer program distributed bandgaps for maximum efficiency and equal cell currents. Rigid materials and thin films have been proposed for optical components and prisms, gratings, and dichroic mirrors have been recommended for spectrum splitting. Various radiator concepts are noted including that of Weatherston and Smith (1960) and Hedgepeth and Knapp (1978). The concept may be suitable for the Solar Power Satellite.

Bekey, I.↗

NASA NTRS1978

The dependence of the CO2 removal efficiency of LiOH on humidity and mesh size

The effect of humidity on the CO2 removal efficiency of small beds of anhydrous LiOH has been studied. Experimental data taken in this small bed system clearly show that there is an optimum humidity for beds loaded with LiOH from a single lot. The CO2 efficiency falls rapidly under dry conditions, but this behavior is approximately the same in all samples. The behavior of the bed under wet conditions is quite dependent on material size distribution. The presence of large particles in a sample can lead to rapid fall off in the CO2 efficiency as the humidity increases.

Davis, S. H.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Systems efficiency and specific mass estimates for direct and indirect solar-pumped closed-cycle high-energy lasers in space

Based on expected advances in technology, the maximum system efficiency and minimum specific mass have been calculated for closed-cycle CO and CO2 electric-discharge lasers (EDL's) and a direct solar-pumped laser in space. The efficiency calculations take into account losses from excitation gas heating, ducting frictional and turning losses, and the compressor efficiency. The mass calculations include the power source, radiator, compressor, fluids, ducting, laser channel, optics, and heat exchanger for all of the systems; and in addition the power conditioner for the EDL's and a focusing mirror for the solar-pumped laser. The results show the major component masses in each system, show which is the lightest system, and provide the necessary criteria for solar-pumped lasers to be lighter than the EDL's. Finally, the masses are compared with results from other studies for a closed-cycle CO2 gasdynamic laser (GDL) and the proposed microwave satellite solar power station (SSPS).

Monson, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Production technology for high efficiency ion implanted solar cells

Ion implantation is being developed for high volume automated production of silicon solar cells. An implanter designed for solar cell processing and able to properly implant up to 300 4-inch wafers per hour is now operational. A machine to implant 180 sq m/hr of solar cell material has been designed. Implanted silicon solar cells with efficiencies exceeding 16% AM1 are now being produced and higher efficiencies are expected. Ion implantation and transient processing by pulsed electron beams are being integrated with electrostatic bonding to accomplish a simple method for large scale, low cost production of high efficiency solar cell arrays.

Kirkpatrick, A. R.↗

NASA NTRS1979

High efficiency ultrathin silicon solar cells

This paper summarizes developments in ultrathin, (50 micron), silicon solar cells for high power-to-weight ratio space power systems. The fabrication technology developments included uniformly thinning oriented silicon slices, enhancement of internal reflection, optimizing high-temperature processes, surface texturing and back surface field enhancement. The best textured-surface ultrathin cells have achieved 14.3% AMO efficiency, while pilot-manufacturing quantities of smooth-surfaced cells have been fabricated with efficiencies of 12%. Data are presented on cell structure, fabrication collection efficiencies and optical properties.

Storti, G.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Low cost cylindrical converter for measuring lead efficiency

A low cost cylindrical thermionic converter has been designed, fabricated, and tested for use in a NASA-JPL program to directly measure converter lead efficiencies using various electrode materials and surfaces. Efficiency measurements are made using input emitter heater power, output power at the leads, and calculated values of the parasitic losses that would not be present in the application configuration. This information can be used to predict the performance characteristics of the advanced converters currently under development. A series of five converters has been tested. Both structured and smooth molybdenum collectors have been used. Emitters included smooth molybdenum, smooth rhenium, and microstructured rhenium. Cesium pressure families of current-voltage curves are presented for emitter temperatures of 1600, 1700, and 1800 K, along with measured efficiencies as a function of converter current densities for each temperature.

Hatch, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Aircraft Energy Efficiency (ACEE) status report

Fuel efficiency in aeronautics, for fuel conservation in general as well as for its effect on commercial aircraft operating economics is considered. Projects of the Aircraft Energy Efficiency Program related to propulsion are emphasized. These include: (1) engine component improvement, directed at performance improvement and engine diagnostics for prolonged service life; (2) energy efficient engine, directed at proving the technology base for the next generation of turbofan engines; and (3) advanced turboprop, directed at advancing the technology of turboprop powered aircraft to a point suitable for commercial airline service. Progress in these technology areas is reported.

Nored, D. L.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Effect on combined cycle efficiency of stack gas temperature constraints to avoid acid corrosion

To avoid condensation of sulfuric acid in the gas turbine exhaust when burning fuel oils contaning sulfur, the exhaust stack temperature and cold-end heat exchanger surfaces must be kept above the condensation temperature. Raising the exhaust stack temperature, however, results in lower combined cycle efficiency compared to that achievable by a combined cycle burning a sulfur-free fuel. The maximum difference in efficiency between the use of sulfur-free and fuels containing 0.8 percent sulfur is found to be less than one percentage point. The effect of using a ceramic thermal barrier coating (TBC) and a fuel containing sulfur is also evaluated. The combined-cycle efficiency gain using a TBC with a fuel containing sulfur compared to a sulfur-free fuel without TBC is 0.6 to 1.0 percentage points with air-cooled gas turbines and 1.6 to 1.8 percentage points with water-cooled gas turbines.

Nainiger, J. J.↗