Solar Space Power Research Articles

OPTIMIZATION OF A SOLAR SPACE POWER SYSTEM BASED ON THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES

Abstract A model of a solar space power station is developed. The usual material properties are introduced and their influence on the system performance is analyzed. The geometric factors and the concentration ratio are accurately defined and taken into account in case of five types of mirrors usual in solar power applications. Both design and operational optimizations are envisaged. Universal graphs are drawn for the optimum ratio between the collector and radiator area and for the maximum power. A brief comparison between three usual types of mirrors (conical, parabolic cylinder and paraboloidal) is performed.

Parametric cost model for solar space power and DIPS systems

A detailed cost model has been developed to parametrically determine the program development and production cost of photovoltaic, solar dynamic, and dynamic isotope (DIPS) space power systems. The model is applicable in the net electrical power range of 3 to 300 kWe for solar power and 0.5 to 10 kWe for DIPS. Application of the cost model allows spacecraft or space-based power system architecture and design trade studies or budgetary forecasting and cost benefit analyses. The cost model considers all major power subsystems (i.e., power generation, power conversion, energy storage, thermal management, and power management/distribution/control). It also considers system cost effects such as integration, testing, and management. The cost breakdown structure, model assumptions, ground rules, bases, cost estimation relationship format, and rationale are presented, and the application of the cost model to 100-kWe solar space power plants and to a 1.0-kWe DIPS is demonstrated.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Optimization of energy storage for solar space power

Optimization of energy storage for solar space power

Solar Thermionic Generators for Space Power

All solar space power systems are subject to the condition that the amount of solar energy available in space depends on the collector-sun distance, which generally differs among missions and which may change markedly during the course of any one mission. Thus the design problem exists of how to tailor the system so as to best use the available solar flux. Furthermore, particularly in the case of thermionic systems, it is difficult to change arbitrarily the size of the system. It is therefore of interest to find the system size which can best fit a variety of missions without need for alterations which increase cost and decrease reliability. An approach to handle this design problem is presented, and numerical examples are given based on the data obtained from tests on the hardware prototype of a solar thermionic generator.

Solar power in space

The contribution of solar photovoltaics (PV׳s) in generation of electric power is continually increasing. PV cells are commonly modelled as circuits. Finding appropriate circuit model parameters of PV cells is crucial for performance evaluation, control, efficiency computations and maximum power point tracking of solar PV systems. The problem of finding circuit model parameters of solar PV cells is referred to as “PV cell model parameter estimation problem,” and is highly attracted by researchers. In this paper, the existing research works on PV cell model parameter estimation problem are classified into three categories and the research works of those categories are reviewed. Based on the conducted review, some recommendations for future research are provided.