Solar energy concentrator device for spacecraft and a solar generator panel

• US 20030155003A1
• Filed: 01/06/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Tur, Myriam, Brosse, Sylvie, Dargent, Thierry
• Granted Patent: US 7,339,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2015/0225 Microheat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0521 using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/292 Space - satellite

Abstract

A device is disclosed for reducing the risk of primary and secondary electrostatic discharges occurring in particular in the solar generators of spacecraft. A solar energy concentrator device for spacecraft includes a reflector for reflecting solar radiation onto a photovoltaic cell for converting solar energy into electrical energy and a heat transfer arrangement for transporting to a cold area heat energy stored by the cell following reception of solar radiation. One particular application of the device is to solar panels for satellites.

Claims

1. A solar energy concentrator device for spacecraft, including a reflector for reflecting solar radiation onto a photovoltaic cell for converting solar energy into electrical energy and heat transfer means adapted to transport to a cold area heat energy stored by the cell following reception of solar radiation.

2. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said heat transfer means include a capillary heat transfer system.

3. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said heat transfer means include longitudinal means connecting a base of said cell to a second cell of said device.

4. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said heat transfer means include a heat micropipe containing a heat-exchange material.

5. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said heat transfer means include a thermally conductive dielectric for reducing the thermal gradient in the device.

6. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflector has an electrically conductive external wall adapted to offer the property of optical absorptivity in the range of infrared frequencies in order to absorb in the form of infrared radiation heat stored following the reception of solar radiation and further adapted to offer the property of reflection of solar radiation in the range of visible light frequencies, and a deposit resulting from a surface treatment with a view to improving the efficiency of heat radiation into space.

7. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said external wall of the reflector is electrically connected to an electrical ground of the panel.

8. The device claimed in claim 7 wherein said heat transfer means and/or said electrically conductive means are integrated into a support panel of said cell.

9. The device claimed in claim 3 wherein said capillary heat transfer system is formed of heat micropipes.

10. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said base of said reflector is made from an electrically conductive material having a high reflectivity in the visible spectrum and is situated at a minimum electrical discharge triggering distance from the ends of the solar cell.

11. The device claimed in claim 10 wherein said distance is 0.8 mm.

12. A solar generator panel including a solar energy concentrator device as claimed in claim 1.

13. The panel claimed in claim 12 wherein said device includes a plurality of reflectors for reflecting solar radiation onto a corresponding plurality of strings of cells, said reflectors and said strings of cells are arranged alternately, and each string of cells is aligned with the width or the length of the panel.