High-voltage operation of photovoltaic power sources in low earth orbit is limited by the probability of discharges in the array. Laboratory experiments were conducted to characterize these discharges. A model is proposed that suggests that experiments conducted to date have measured transients related to the discharging of the solar cell cover glass as a result of a discharge rather than the discharge itself. A system analysis approach is adopted to model the discharge transient. It is found that the experimental transients could be modeled as the decharging of the solar cell cover glass through the adhesive resistance. Ion current collection by the interconnects after the discharge could be modeled as an equivalent inductor. The predictions of this model are shown to be in excellent agreement with the data
Interpretation of high voltage solar array discharge experiments
Interpretation der Entladungsversuche von Sonnenbatterien bei hohen Spannungen
1990 IEEE Annual Conference on Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects (NSREC), 16-20 July 1990, Reno, NV, USA ; 2120-2127
IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science ; 37 , 6, PT.1
1990
8 Seiten, 28 Quellen
Article (Journal)
English
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