The Impacts Of Solar Cell Size, The Spacing Between Current-Collecting Fingers, And Switched Strings, On The Electromagnetic Radiation From Solar Panels For Satellite Applications

Abstract

Conventional solar panels are comprised of a given number of rows and columns of solar cells such that the overall array of solar cells forms a rectangular pattern. In applications of solar panels, it is sometimes necessary to regulate the current extracted from a solar panel by switching the strings of solar cells within the panel. This switching action can also extend the life of the solar cells by preventing a given cell from being actuated 100% of the time.This paper attempts to characterize the DC magnetic fields, as well as the steady-state RF electric fields, for a conventional solar panel that is characterized with a height of about 0.9m and a width of about 1.8m or 3.8m. The solar panel is comprised of either 18 or 36 strings, where each string contains 18 solar cells. For 18 strings of solar cells, each cell is 10cm wide and the height of each cell is 5cm. On the other hand, for 36 strings of solar cells, the width of each cell is reduced from 10cm to 5cm and the height of each cell remains 5cm. The strings are switched to support close to a 50% actuation of the total number of solar cells, and where either (1) every other string is ON (50% Actuation), or (2) every other group of two adjacent strings are ON (50% or 56% Actuation), or (3) every other group of three adjacent strings are ON (50% Actuation).