Thin-film and crystalline solar cell array system performance comparisons

Murphy, David M.; Eskenazi, Mike; White, Stephen F.; Spence, Brian

doi:10.1109/pvsc.2002.1190687

Cited by 17 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Slow progress in thin-film efficiency over the past decades, contrasted with crystalline device performance gains, indicate that a space-worthy thin-film technology will not be coming soon. And even if a technology was available at low cost with efficiency as high as 15%, for large power needs the doubled array area would mean much more structure and harnessing mass, and would result in a heavier array [16] (for the same stiffness and strength) with a problematic moment of inertia (MOI), which degrades attitude control authority and consumes propellant at a greater rate.…”

Section: Figure 3 Space Photovoltaic Technology Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MegaFlex - The Scaling Potential of UltraFlex Technology

Murphy¹

2012

53rd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference

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NASA has near-term needs for solar electric propulsion power sources from 5 to 30 kW and longer term goals for SEP tugs as large as 300 kW and beyond. UltraFlex is a high-TRL solar array technology that spans the initial range of power levels with unmatched performance in specific power, stiffness, and strength. This technology has been to Mars and is the baseline for the NASA Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV), as well as upcoming flights of the Orbital Cygnus spacecraft for Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) to the space station. MegaFlex is UltraFlex technology, with two enhancements to the compaction of stowage to allow a two-wing configuration to provide power levels from 10 kW to 1 MW with near-term multi-junction cell efficiencies. This technology elegantly meets the SEP technology development need for true scalability, with a high-performance solution that uniquely allows for complete ground test and validation of up to a 350 kW array wing in existing facilities. Given the compaction capabilities of MegaFlex, it is an enabling technology for any kilowatt level where the power needed is more than the stowage volume allows with standard UltraFlex or alternate approaches. MegaFlex achieves similar performance characteristics as UltraFlex with specific power up to 200 W/kg and also higher stiffness (>3x) and strength (>5x) than conventional arrays.

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Section: Figure 3 Space Photovoltaic Technology Evolutionmentioning
confidence: 99%

MegaFlex - The Scaling Potential of UltraFlex Technology
Murphy¹
2012
53rd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference
16
0
4
0
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“…It was determined that the UltraFlex solar array with triple-junction gallium arsenide cells, shown in Figure 25, was the best choice because it has extremely high power-to-weight ratio (Ref. 38).…”

Section: Generationmentioning
confidence: 99%

SCience Hybrid Orbiter and Lunar Relay (SCHOLR) Architecture and Design
Trase
¹
,
Barch
²
,
Chaney
³

et al. 2010
AIAA SPACE 2010 Conference &Amp; Exposition
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“…While silicon solar cells were initially used for space power, they were replaced by III-V based devices, first by the GaAs single junction cell [2] and then eventually by the previously mentioned triple junction cell. While the III-V devices were more expensive ($/Watt) than silicon on a bare cell level, at the array and panel level the III-V devices were a lower cost option [3,4]. This was due to the III-V device higher efficiency and superior radiation hardness compared to silicon, which led to smaller area arrays, with fewer cells.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%

Next Generation Radiation Hard IMM Space Solar Cells
Sharps
¹
,
Aiken
²
,
Cho
³

et al. 2017
E3S Web Conf.
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High efficiency space solar cells based on the GaInP 2 /InGaAs/Ge triple junction lattice matched device with 1 sun, AM0 efficiencies of approximately 30% are commercially available from several companies. Multiple approaches have been suggested for significantly surpassing the 30% efficiency level, but achieving this in a commercially viable cell has not been easy. We review those approaches, pointing out the advantages and challenges of each. SolAero has been focused on developing the inverted metamorphic multi-junction (IMM) solar cell, and has recently demonstrated a radiation hard version. We present the most recent performance data, including the response to particle radiation. The IMM cell can be used in a number of rigid or flexible configurations, and considerable effort has been focused on cell packaging and panel integration. The IMM device is ready to start qualification to the ECSS and AIAA standards.

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Thin-film and crystalline solar cell array system performance comparisons

Cited by 17 publications

References 1 publication

MegaFlex - The Scaling Potential of UltraFlex Technology

MegaFlex - The Scaling Potential of UltraFlex Technology

SCience Hybrid Orbiter and Lunar Relay (SCHOLR) Architecture and Design

Next Generation Radiation Hard IMM Space Solar Cells

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