Suggested Test Sequence Amendments of the Current ECSS E-ST-20-08C Standard for Bare Solar Cells Qualification

G Blanco,A Grás,G Jüngst,A Fernandez

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20171616002

Abstract

INTA-SPASOLAB as independent testing facility for more than 25 years has an extensive expertise in the certification and qualification of photovoltaic devices for space applications. Recently INTA-SPASOLAB has participated in the qualification of the latest technology upgrade of lattice-matched III-V GaInP/GaInAs/Ge triple-junction (TJ) bare solar cells manufactured by AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH (Germany). This participation has consisted of carrying out test sequences of subgroup B, Beginning of Life (BOL) performance, C1 (Electron Irradiation) and P (Proton Irradiation) according to the current ECSS E-ST-20¬08C, Rev.1 reference standard.At these subgroup qualifications, some performance tests, in particular spectral response and electric performance tests, have been agreed to be either modified in the test sequence order or added, in order to understand better the evolution of the electrical cell parameter results.In this work, test sequence variations and obtained results on those subgroups B, C1 and P, are presented. The gained experience at this qualification and other previous work about solar cell characterization is used to suggest amendments.

Highlights

Solar cells have been used for electrical power generation since the Vanguard 1 satellite mission
According to the applied European Cooperation for Space Standardisation (ECSS) standard, the stability of the electric solar cell performance under equivalent light and temperature of 1 solar constant (s.c.) AM0 conditions shall be verified by the two-step test, photon irradiation (PH) and subsequent thermal annealing (TA), which is to be performed at Beginning of Life (BOL), after the Electron Irradiation and after the Proton Irradiation test step, respectively
For non-irradiated BOL cells solar cell performance has been within determined measurement uncertainty

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Solar cells have been used for electrical power generation since the Vanguard 1 satellite mission. One of the main problems encountered on their mission operation is their vulnerability to the harmful environmental space conditions, and in consequence a lost in power generation. For this and other reasons of space product assurance, the European Space Agency (ESA) and European industry associations established so called European Cooperation for Space Standardisation (ECSS) qualification standards. For photovoltaic solar cell assemblies the document ECSS-E-ST-20-08C, Rev 1 is the reference standard [1]

TEST SECUENCE DESCRIPTION

RESULTS

CONCLUSIONS