Thermal Analysis of Space-Based Solar Power System Study Photovoltaic DC to RF Antenna Module (PRAM)

The thermal challenges of a space-based solar power system are numerous. Solar concentration, limited space, trade-off between weight, power, and temperature push the thermal control system. There are many trades to the efficiency of a space-based solar power system, with factors including weight, size of the solar panel, methods of converting to radio frequencies (RF), and the maintenance of operational temperatures. As expected the temperature of the system increases with solar concentration. Although solar cells operate more efficiently at higher concentrations, the resulting higher temperatures decrease this efficiency faster. The idea behind the PRAM study is to create a modular panel, which could be duplicated and attached in series or parallel with other panels to create a large array. This limits the area available for heat rejection for the thermal control system. Solar cells are efficient UV absorbers and IR emitters, typically providing their own radiative cooling area. As the sun concentrations rise above 1.5 suns, additional radiative (non-solar cell) area is needed for cooling the arrays. This paper details the different models created to study the module shapes currently being studied in the PRAM program.