The characteristics of primary and secondary arcs on a solar array in low earth orbit

Zhu, Linggang; Fu, Lin-Chun; Qiao, Ming; Cui, Bo; Chen, Qi; Lin, Junyi

doi:10.1088/2058-6272/aa607a

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 21 publications

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“…Reference [16] noted that the formation of the secondary plasma depends mostly on how much plasma is generated, not on how many current flows through the secondary plasma. Reference [17] noted that whether a primary arc can become a non-sustained arc or temporary sustained arc may still depend on how the primary arc plasma was generated.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study on volt-ampere characteristics of solar array arcs in LEO spacecraft

Zhu¹,

Liu²,

Zhang³

et al. 2019

Plasma Sci. Technol.

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The primary and secondary arcs volt-ampere characteristics of low earth orbit solar arrays are studied in this research. Using three gallium-arsenide solar cell samples, the gap lengths of the solar cell are set to 1, 2, and 3 mm. First, the primary arc voltage characteristics of a solar array are analyzed. It is found that two steps are involved in the primary arc voltages, which are 116 and 22 V according to our experiment and are independent of the electrostatic discharge current and the gap lengths. By comparing with the arc pattern, we determined that current chopping may be the reason for the stepped arc voltage. Then, the characteristics of the secondary arc of the solar array are demonstrated. The study shows that the secondary arc voltage values increase with the gap length. In the case of the same cell with a fixed gap length, the voltage of the secondary arc increases with the string current. Finally, the relationship between the secondary arc voltage and the gap length is obtained which helps the string voltage and the gap length selection for system design.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study on volt-ampere characteristics of solar array arcs in LEO spacecraft

Zhu¹,

Liu²,

Zhang³

et al. 2019

Plasma Sci. Technol.

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Study on plasma expansion model of primary discharge on spacecraft solar array

WEI 尉,

(武建文),

ZHU 朱

2024

Plasma Sci. Technol.

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In the space plasma environment, primary discharge may occur on the solar array and evolve into a destructive sustained arc, which threatens the safe operation of the spacecraft. Based on the plasma expansion fluid theory, a new multicomponent plasma expansion model is proposed in this study, which takes into account the effects of ion species, ion number, initial discharge current, and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) plasma environment. The expansion simulation of single-component and multicomponent ions is carried out respectively, and the variations of plasma number density, expansion distance, and speed during the expansion process are obtained. Compared with the experimental results, the evolution of propagation distance and speed is closed and the error is within a reasonable range, which verifies the validity and rationality of the model. The propagation characteristics of the primary discharge on the solar array surface and the influence of the initial value on the maximum propagation distance and the propagation current peaks are investigated. This study can provide important theoretical support for the propagation and evolution of the primary discharge and the key behavior of the transition to secondary discharge on spacecraft solar array.

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