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Results for “Solar Array Photovoltaic Solar Array”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Diode laser power module for beamed power transmission

Recent progress with powerful, efficient, and coherent monolithic diode master-oscillator/power-amplifier (M-MOPA) systems is promising for the development of a space-based diode laser power station. A conceptual design of a 50-kW diode laser power module was made for space-based power stations capable of beaming coherent power to the moon, Martian rovers, or other satellites. The laser diode power module consists of a solar photovoltaic array or nuclear power source, diode laser arrays (LDAs), a phase controller, beam-steering optics, a thermal management unit, and a radiator. Thermal load management and other relevant aspects of the system (such as power requirements and system mass) are considered. The 50-kW power module described includes the highest available efficiency of LD M-MOPA system to date. However, the overall efficiency of three amplifier stages, including the coupling efficiency, turns out to be 55.5 percent. Though a chain of PA stages generates a high-power coherent beam, there is a penalty due to the coupling loss between stages. The specific power of the 50-kW module using solar power is 6.58 W/kg.

Choi, S. H.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Addressing the Split Incentive Challenge for Enhanced Solar Adoption in Multifamily Rental Properties [Abstract]

The split incentive problem is particularly pronounced in rental markets, where landlords prioritize investments that directly increase property value or rental income. Since energy savings from solar photovoltaic (PV) systems primarily benefit tenants, landlords may perceive little return on investment unless mechanisms exist to recapture some of the financial gains. The primary objective of this project is to develop a publicly available, web-based tool to analyze the U.S. Department of Energy’s ResStock database, which models the U.S. residential building stock. The tool allows users to filter buildings by location, type, HVAC system, square footage, and other characteristics, and outputs typical electric load profiles. By leveraging location-specific electric load data, Fram Energy aims to advance business strategies that address the split incentive barrier and promote the adoption of solar PV installations in rental properties. In addition, a machine learning model will be developed to weigh the marginal contribution of building features across the dataset in predicting electricity demand, supporting guided decision making in forecasting electric load profiles. Lastly, based on each building’s location, load profile, and utility’s electricity rate, an optimized solar photovoltaic array and battery energy storage system will be sized to provide energy arbitrage opportunities.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2005

Advanced Power Regulator Developed for Spacecraft

The majority of new satellites generate electrical power using photovoltaic solar arrays and store energy in batteries for use during eclipse periods. Careful regulation of battery charging during insolation can greatly increase the expected lifetime of the satellite. The battery charge regulator is usually custom designed for each satellite and its specific mission. Economic competition in the small satellite market requires battery charge regulators that are lightweight, efficient, inexpensive, and modular enough to be used in a wide variety of satellites. A new battery charge regulator topology has been developed at the NASA Lewis Research Center to address these needs. The new regulator topology uses industry-standard dc-dc converters and a unique interconnection to provide size, weight, efficiency, fault tolerance, and modularity benefits over existing systems. A transformer-isolated buck converter is connected such that the high input line is connected in series with the output. This "bypass connection" biases the converter's output onto the solar array voltage. Because of this biasing, the converter only processes the fraction of power necessary to charge the battery above the solar array voltage. Likewise, the same converter hookup can be used to regulate the battery output to the spacecraft power bus with similar fractional power processing. The advantages of this scheme are: 1) Because only a fraction of the power is processed through the dc-dc converter, the single- stage conversion efficiency is 94 to 98 percent; 2) Costly, high-efficiency dc-dc converters are not necessary for high end-to-end system efficiency; 3) The system is highly fault tolerant because the bypass connection will still deliver power if the dc-dc converter fails; and 4) The converters can easily be connected in parallel, allowing higher power systems to be built from a common building block. This new technology will be spaceflight tested in the Photovoltaic Regulator Kit Experiment (PRKE) on TRW's Small Spacecraft Technology Initiative (SSTI) satellite scheduled for launch in 1996. This experiment uses commercial dc-dc converters (28 to 15 Vdc) and additional control circuitry to regulate current to a battery load. The 60-W, 87- percent efficiency converters can control 180 W of power at an efficiency of 94 percent in the new configuration. The power density of the Photovoltaic Regulator Kit Experiment is about 200 W/kg.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2026

Control and Real-Time Simulation of Microgrids with EV Fast-Charging and Grid-Forming Resources

Fast charging stations (FCSs) for electric vehicles (EVs) can behave as constant power loads, which is problematic for the operation of grid-forming (GFM) inverter-based resources (IBRs). To tackle this problem, this paper proposes a control suite that makes FCSs responsive to ac voltage and frequency disturbances. To test the performance of the FCS controls, the paper also sets forth theory to compensate for time-delays appearing in the real-time simulation of microgrid models divided into several central processing units (CPUs). Furthermore, these contributions are showcased via multi-CPU real-time simulations of a faulted microgrid having EV FCSs and GFM IBRs powered by photovoltaic solar arrays as well as power hardware-in-the-loop experiments. These contributions are significant to address NERC recommendations and IEEE standards.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1979

Assessment of low-cost manufacturing process sequences

An extensive research and development activity to reduce the cost of manufacturing photovoltaic solar arrays by a factor of approximately one hundred is discussed. Proposed and actual manufacturing process descriptions were compared to manufacturing costs. An overview of this methodology is presented.

Chamberlain, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Redox storage systems for solar applications

The NASA Redox energy storage system is described. The system is based on soluble aqueous iron and chromium chloride redox couples. The needed technology advances in the two elements (electrodes and membranes) that are key to its technological feasibility have been achieved and system development has begun. The design, construction, and test of a 1 kilowatt system integrated with a solar photovoltaic array is discussed.

Hagedorn, N. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Electric power - Looking at regenerative systems

Photovoltaic solar array technology dominates NASA space station planning for the late 1980s, although the reduction of fabrication costs and the extension of service life for such arrays remain essential goals for research and development. Attention is given to concentrator arrays, in which highly reflective surfaces concentrate solar energy onto the solar cells. Two types of concentrator arrays are under consideration: one with a low geometric concentration ratio which after reflector losses can produce about 5 suns at the cell surface, and the other with a Cassegrainian concentrator that produces a flux level of 100 suns on the cell surface. Costs are reduced from the $300/W for planar arrays to $250/W and as little as $100/W, respectively, in 1982 dollars. The storage of electrical energy by means of novel battery systems is also considered.

Miller, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Silicon material technology status

Silicon has been the basic element for the electronic and photovoltaic industries. The use of silicon as the primary element for terrestrial photovoltaic solar arrays is projected to continue. The reasons for this projection are related to the maturity of silicon technology, the ready availability of extremely pure silicon, the performance of silicon solar cells, and the considerable present investment in technology and manufacturing facilities. The technologies for producing semiconductor grade silicon and, to a lesser extent, refined metallurgical grade silicon are considered. It is pointed out that nearly all of the semiconductor grade silicon is produced by processes based on the Siemens deposition reactor, a technology developed 26 years ago. The state-of-the-art for producing silicon by this process is discussed. It is expected that efforts to reduce polysilicon process costs will continue.

Lutwack, R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Space Station multidisciplinary analysis capability - IDEAS2

A computer-aided engineering tool now in use at NASA for systems engineering and integration analysis of the Space Station is described. This tool, called IDEAS2, combines the spacecraft-specific analysis software from NASA IDEAS (truss synthesizer, rigid body controls, plume impingement, orbital lifetime, orbit heat loads, and life support systems) with the interactive graphics, geometric database, solids modeler, structural and thermal analysis capability of the SDRC I-DEAS to obtain an integrated package suitable for Space Station design. This integrated package was applied to a very recent study of growth scenarios of the Space Station dual keel configuration, in which a comparison was made between designs using a combination of photovoltaic solar arrays and solar dynamic collectors, and those using only solar dynamic collectors.

Baker, M.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Advanced power systems for EOS

The Earth Observing System, which is part of the International Mission to Planet Earth, is NASA's main contribution to the Global Change Research Program. Five large platforms are to be launched into polar orbit: two by NASA, two by the European Space Agency, and one by the Japanese. In such an orbit the radiation resistance of indium phosphide solar cells combined with the potential of utilizing 5 micron cell structures yields an increase of 10 percent in the payload capability. If further combined with the Advanced Photovoltaic Solar Array, the total additional payload capability approaches 12 percent.

Bailey, Sheila G.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Portable Power And Digital-Communication Units

Conceptual network of electronic-equipment modules provides electrical power and digital radio communications at multiple sites not served by cables. System includes central communication unit and portable units powered by solar photovoltaic arrays. Useful to serve equipment that must be set up quickly at remote sites or buildings that cannot be modified to provide cable connections.

Levin, Richard R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Enhanced EOS photovoltaic power system capability with InP solar cells

The Earth Observing System (EOS), which is part of the International Mission to Planet Earth, is NASA's main contribution to the Global Change Research Program which opens a new era in international cooperation to study the Earth's environment. Five large platforms are to be launched into polar orbit, two by NASA, two by ESA, and one by the Japanese. In such an orbit the radiation resistance of indium phosphide solar cells combined with the potential of utilizing five micron cell structures yields an increase of 10 percent in the payload capability. If further combined with the advanced photovoltaic solar array the payload savings approaches 12 percent.

Bailey, Sheila G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Experimental radiation cooled magnetrons for space

The heat disposal problem that occurs in the microwave generator of the Solar Power Satellite when it converts dc power from solar photovoltaic arrays into microwave power for transmission to earth is examined. A theoretical study is made of the radiation cooling of a magnetron directional amplifier, and some experimental data obtained from the QKH 2244 magnetron are presented. This instrument is an unpackaged microwave oven magnetron to which an anodized aluminum radiator has been attached and whose magnetic field is supplied by special samarium cobalt magnets.

Brown, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The CRAF/Cassini power subsystem - Preliminary design update

A chronology is provided of the rationale leading from the early Mariner spacecraft to the CRAF/Cassini Mariner Mark II power subsystem architecture. The display pathway began with a hybrid including a solar photovoltaic array, a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), and a battery supplying a power profile with a peak loading of about 300 W. The initial concept was to distribute power through a new solid-state, programmable switch controlled by an embedded microprocessor. As the overall mission, science, and project design matured, the power requirements increased. The design evolved from the hybrid to two RTG plus batteries to meet peak loadings of near 500 W in 1989. Later that year, circumstances led to abandonment of the distributed computer concept and a return to centralized control. Finally, as power requirements continued to grow, a third RTG was added to the design and the battery removed, with the return to the discharge-controller for transients during fault recovery procedures.

Atkins, Kenneth L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Advanced power systems for EOS

The Earth Observing System (EOS), which is part of the International Mission to Planet Earth, is NASA's main contribution to the Global Change Research Program. Five large platforms are to be launched into polar orbit: two by NASA, two by the European Space Agency, and one by the Japanese. In such an orbit the radiation resistance of indium phosphide solar cells combined with the potential of utilizing 5-micron cell structures yields an increase of 10 percent in the payload capability. If further combined with the Advanced Photovoltaic Solar Array, the total additional payload capability approaches 12 percent.

Bailey, Sheila G.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Solar electric propulsion for the orbital transfer of large spacecraft to geosynchronous orbit

Low thrust trajectories utilizing electric propulsion and photovoltaic power sources are derived for the transfer of a large spacecraft from assembly in low earth orbit to operation at geosynchronous orbit. Conventional silicon photovoltaic devices are assumed. A 1 MeV equivalent electron flux model is used. The solar panel mass and size are taken from Advanced Photovoltaic Solar Array design concepts with 3-mil shielding. Shadowing of the vehicle and low earth orbit atmospheric drag are also modeled. The power system is sized so that end of life output is 30 percent of initial output. Steering of the thrust vector is defined by a three term series in which the coefficients are varied as controls to minimize the total power loss with cumulative exposure in the Van Allen region.

Garrison, James L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Power Converters Maximize Outputs Of Solar Cell Strings

Microprocessor-controlled dc-to-dc power converters devised to maximize power transferred from solar photovoltaic strings to storage batteries and other electrical loads. Converters help in utilizing large solar photovoltaic arrays most effectively with respect to cost, size, and weight. Main points of invention are: single controller used to control and optimize any number of "dumb" tracker units and strings independently; power maximized out of converters; and controller in system is microprocessor.

Frederick, Martin E.↗