Spacecraft power beaming and solar cell annealing using high-energy lasers
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Authors
Luce, Richard C., Jr.
Subjects
Laser
Solar cell
Photovoltaics
Power beaming
Annealing
Wireless power transmission
Electric propulsion
PANSAT
Solar cell
Photovoltaics
Power beaming
Annealing
Wireless power transmission
Electric propulsion
PANSAT
Advisors
Michael, Sherif
Biblarz, Oscar
Date of Issue
2002-12
Date
December 2002
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Satellite lifetime is often limited by degradation of the electrical power subsystem--radiation-damaged solar arrays and failed batteries. Being able to beam power from terrestrial sites could alleviate this limitation, extending the lifetime of billions of dollars of satellite assets, as well as providing additional energy for electric propulsion that can be used for stationkeeping and orbital changes. In addition, laboratory research at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) has shown the potential to anneal damaged solar cells using lasers. This thesis decribes that research, preliminary work performed lasing a representative solar panel array, and a proposed Maui experiment to demonstrate the relevant concepts by lasing PANSAT, an NPS-built and operated spacecraft. The preliminary work done at Maui involved lasing a PANSAT silicon photovoltaic array using a 975 nm Yb:YAG source at output power levels of 7 W, 14 W and 21 W. These results matched those obtained under near-AM0 conditions atop Mount Haleakala (for the 7 W case) and extrapolated to match predicted output levels. Enough data points were collected at each power level to generate an I-V curve for the panel, identifying the open circuit voltage, short circuit current, and maximum power points. The efficiency of the panel varied from 13.1% (as expected for monochromatic light) at 7 W to 11.3% at 21 W due to uniform heating of the cells. These results represent a "ground truth" baseline from which further research can continue.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Aeronautics and Astronautics
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funding
Format
xiv, 79 p. : col. ill.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.