UNISAT program is an educational program established at the School of Aerospace Engineering, University of Rome "La Sapienza", with the aim to involve students in designing, manufacturing and operating in orbit microsatellites. The Unisat whole technological process has been developed on the basis of the terrestrial technology, modified to make the system withstand the launch and space environment loads. In order to reduce costs, most of the UNISAT satellites components are based on commercial off the shelf technology which Is supposed to be durable In space environment, such as solar cells. In this perspective the attention of our group Is now turned to terrestrial concentrator systems In order to evaluate their reliability for low-cost microsatellites EPS (Electrical Power Subystem). The paper deals with terrestrial grade, high efficiency, triple-junction solar cells considering a simple concentrator system that makes use of inexpensive materials such as plastic lenses to concentrate solar energy shining on a fairly large area and focus that energy on a smaller area, where a small solar cell is placed. The development of a collector module requires a lens with large aperture and short focal length avoiding the weight and volume used in conventional lens design: Fresnel lens. In order to compare different cost per watt and to find the better solution for our application, we tested three different kind of solar cells: silicon solar cells, space rated triple junction solar cells and terrestrial grade high efficiency triple junction solar cells. Laboratory tests did not give good results using commercial Fresnel lenses due to their opacity thus alternative solutions, at reasonable costs, are highlighted. In order to keep low UNISAT program cost carrying out new technological challenges, we would exploit this new technology, photovoltaic concentrator systems, with the aim to increase efficiency of low cost microsatellite power system. Copyright IAF/IAA. All rights reserved.
Innovative solutions for microsatellites photovoltaic power generation / D., Cipollone; L., Murrali; Santoni, Fabio; Piergentili, Fabrizio. - STAMPA. - 8:(2007), pp. 5544-5557. (Intervento presentato al convegno 58th International Astronautical Congress 2007 tenutosi a Hyderabad nel 24 September 2007 through 28 September 2007).
Innovative solutions for microsatellites photovoltaic power generation
SANTONI, Fabio;PIERGENTILI, FABRIZIO
2007
Abstract
UNISAT program is an educational program established at the School of Aerospace Engineering, University of Rome "La Sapienza", with the aim to involve students in designing, manufacturing and operating in orbit microsatellites. The Unisat whole technological process has been developed on the basis of the terrestrial technology, modified to make the system withstand the launch and space environment loads. In order to reduce costs, most of the UNISAT satellites components are based on commercial off the shelf technology which Is supposed to be durable In space environment, such as solar cells. In this perspective the attention of our group Is now turned to terrestrial concentrator systems In order to evaluate their reliability for low-cost microsatellites EPS (Electrical Power Subystem). The paper deals with terrestrial grade, high efficiency, triple-junction solar cells considering a simple concentrator system that makes use of inexpensive materials such as plastic lenses to concentrate solar energy shining on a fairly large area and focus that energy on a smaller area, where a small solar cell is placed. The development of a collector module requires a lens with large aperture and short focal length avoiding the weight and volume used in conventional lens design: Fresnel lens. In order to compare different cost per watt and to find the better solution for our application, we tested three different kind of solar cells: silicon solar cells, space rated triple junction solar cells and terrestrial grade high efficiency triple junction solar cells. Laboratory tests did not give good results using commercial Fresnel lenses due to their opacity thus alternative solutions, at reasonable costs, are highlighted. In order to keep low UNISAT program cost carrying out new technological challenges, we would exploit this new technology, photovoltaic concentrator systems, with the aim to increase efficiency of low cost microsatellite power system. Copyright IAF/IAA. All rights reserved.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
