Stretched lens array (SLA) photovoltaic concentrator hardware development & testing

Over the past two years, the Stretched Lens Array (SLA) photovoltaic concentrator has evolved from a concept with small component demonstrators to operational array hardware that is ready for space validation testing. Based on the same general concept as the SCARLET concentrator array that was successfully demonstrated on the NASA Deep Space 1 mission, the Stretched Lens Array is an evolutionary, performance-optimized, ultra-light, cost-effective solar concentrator array. Under a recent NASA contract, the SLA design was further refined and array hardware was designed, fabricated and tested. This paper will summarize the focus of this hardware development effort, discuss the results of recent testing conducted under this program, and present the expected performance of a full-size 7 kW wing designed to meet the requirements of future space missions.

[1]  Mark J. O'Neill,et al.  Hypervelocity impact testing of stretched lens array modules , 2002 .

[2]  D. Guidice,et al.  Early results from the PASP Plus flight experiment , 1994, Proceedings of 1994 IEEE 1st World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion - WCPEC (A Joint Conference of PVSC, PVSEC and PSEC).

[3]  Thomas Kilroy.  The O'Neill , 1995 .

[4]  Michael F. Piszczor,et al.  The SCARLET light concentrating solar array , 1996, Conference Record of the Twenty Fifth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 1996.

[5]  M.F. Piszczor,et al.  Development of the ultra-light stretched lens array , 2002, Conference Record of the Twenty-Ninth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2002..

[6]  M. Eskenazi,et al.  Photovoltaic options for increased satellite power at lower cost , 2003, 3rd World Conference onPhotovoltaic Energy Conversion, 2003. Proceedings of.

[7]  M. O'neill,et al.  Development of a dome Fresnel lens/gallium arsenide photovoltaic concentrator for space applications , 1987 .

[8]  M.F. Piszczor,et al.  The stretched lens array (SLA): a low-risk cost-effective concentrator array offering wing-level performance of 180 W/kg and 300 W/m/sup 2/ at 300 VDC , 2002, IECEC '02. 2002 37th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 2002..

[9]  R. King,et al.  Fabrication of high efficiency, III-V multi-junction solar cells for space concentrators , 2002, Conference Record of the Twenty-Ninth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2002..