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Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
A Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) Solar Concentrator Array (SCA) was constructed using the recently developed fresnel lens technology. The parts used were a mixture of space qualified components and readily available off-the-shelf items. THe objective of the test to verify that the SCA would substantially increase the array's power output and reject the high thermal radiation it would encounter in space. It was found that the 3 by 3 GaAs SCA power output increased from 29.88 mW to 433.71 mW. The thermal analysis and the steady state cell operating temperature calculation showed that the SCA's thermal design would keep the GaAs solar cells at a steady state temperature of 50.7 C. However, because of the low intensity level of the light source available for use the cell operating temperature was only 27 C. This was considered to be inconclusive in determining the adequacy of the thermal design.