JP2001088800A - Solar battery paddle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize stable supply of electric power for a long period of time by attempting homogeneity of electric power to be generated by this invention. SOLUTION: An auxiliary panel 13 on which a solar battery cell 12 is aligned and a shield part 15 is provided on the other surface is arranged on a solar battery panel 113 free to revolve, this auxiliary panel 13 is moved to a first position to cover a part of a cell surface of the solar battery cell 12 of the solar battery panel 113 by the shield part 15, a cell area of the solar battery cell 12 of the solar battery panel 113 is reduced, reduction of electric power to be generated is attempted, a part of the cell surface of the solar battery panel 113 is protected from radioactive rays, etc., and at the last stage of panel longevity, the auxiliary panel 13 is constituted so as to secure roughly the same desired electric power to be generated as in an initial state by exposing the whole cell surface of the solar battery panel 113 in the sun and revolving and controlling the surface of the solar battery cell 12 at a second position to expose it in the sun.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solar battery paddle suitable for use as a power source mounted on a spacecraft such as an artificial satellite.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a solar battery paddle is a solar battery cell 1 for converting sunlight into electric energy as shown in FIG.
Are arranged in a series-parallel manner in solar cell panels 1a, 1b, 1
c is mounted on the spacecraft body 2 in a freely foldable and deployable manner via a deployment mechanism (not shown). The spacecraft body 2 is deployed and deployed in a state where it is transported to outer space to be used for a desired operation. Is known to be.

By the way, such a solar cell paddle is
The solar panels 1a, 1b, and 1c are provided in consideration of the deterioration of the solar cell 1 due to radiation in the space environment and the required power even at the end of the life of the mounted spacecraft in consideration of its life. A so-called sizing design for setting the panel area is performed.

[0004] That is, in the case of a solar battery paddle, the initial stage of its launch into outer space (BOL: Beginning O).
f Life) solar cell panels 1a, 1b, 1
c and the end of life of the spacecraft (EOL: End)
The power generated by the solar cell panel 1 in (Of Life) changes due to deterioration of the solar cell 1 due to radiation, damage due to collision of a minute object called space debris floating in outer space, and the like. Therefore, the solar battery paddle is designed so that the desired generated power can be secured even at the end of its life. For example, when one solar cell 1 of the solar panels 1a, 1b, and 1c is destroyed, the power generated by the plurality of solar cells 1 arranged in parallel disappears, and the power generation capability is greatly reduced. Problem.

Therefore, the solar battery paddle is designed and manufactured in consideration of these factors for reducing the generated power and the life of the spacecraft, and is provided with shunt desipator means for consuming excess generated power in its initial state. Have been.

However, in the above solar cell paddle,
Since the shunt dessipator must be provided, there is a problem that the size becomes large and the weight becomes heavy. In addition, since heat is generated when the surplus generated electric power is consumed by the shunt desicciator means, a waste heat treatment that consumes the surplus generated electric power must be performed, so that the heat countermeasures are very troublesome. Having.

[0007]

As described above, the conventional solar battery paddle becomes large and heavy when satisfying the promotion of the longevity of the spacecraft. There is a problem that the measures are very troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a solar battery paddle that has a simple configuration and can stabilize power supply for a long period of time by making uniform the generated power. The purpose is to do.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a plurality of solar cells for converting sunlight into electric energy are arranged, and a plurality of solar cell panels connected in a foldable and unfoldable manner are provided. At least one of the plurality of solar panels is provided movably at one end of the solar cell surface, the solar cells are arranged on one surface, the other surface is provided with a shield portion for shielding the sunlight The auxiliary panel, and a movement of the auxiliary panel based on the generated power of the solar cell panel, and the shield portion covers a part of the solar cell surface of the solar cell panel at the first position or the one side. And a control means for controlling the solar cell at a second position arranged substantially on the same plane as the solar cell surface of the solar cell panel to form a solar cell paddle.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the control means controls the movement of the auxiliary panel to the first position to reduce the area of the solar cells of the solar panel, thereby reducing the power generated by the solar panel. A part of the solar cell is protected by the shield part of the auxiliary panel. And the control means, when the generated power of the solar cell of the solar cell panel decreases,
The auxiliary panel is moved to the second position to increase the cell area of the solar cells of the solar panel, and to direct the solar cells of the auxiliary panel toward the sun to secure desired generated power.

Therefore, the generation of surplus power at the beginning of operation is almost eliminated, and the power generated at the end of the life can be set to a desired value substantially the same as at the beginning of operation, thereby reducing the size and weight. In addition, stable power supply can be achieved for a long period of time.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a solar battery paddle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
For example, three solar cell panels 111 and 11 are provided at both ends thereof.
2 and 113 are connected in a foldable and unfoldable manner via a unfolding mechanism (not shown). And, this solar cell panel 111,
Each of the solar cells 1 and 112 has a plurality of solar cells 1.
2 are arranged in a series-parallel manner, of which, for example, a solar panel 113 at the end farthest from the spacecraft main body 10 is provided with an auxiliary panel 13 via a rotating mechanism 14 as shown in FIGS. To be rotatable.

As shown in FIG. 4, the auxiliary panel 13 is provided with a plurality of solar cells 12 arranged on one side thereof in a similar manner in a series-parallel manner, and a shield portion 15 is formed on the other side. 2). Then, the auxiliary panel 13 has one surface of the solar cell 12 opposed to the surface of the solar cell 12 of the solar cell panel 113 via the rotation mechanism 14 and one of the solar cells 12 of the solar cell panel 113. First position (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) covering the portion, and the solar cell 1
Rotation control is performed between the two surfaces of the solar cell panel 113 and the second position (see FIG. 4) arranged on the same surface as the solar cell 12.

The shield portion 15 is made of a metal material such as aluminum, for example. When the auxiliary panel 13 is located at the first position, a part of the surface of the solar cell 12 of the solar cell panel 113 is formed. Shielding reduces the power generated by the solar cells 12 of the solar panel 113. At this time, the shield portion 15 is
By shielding a part of the thirteen solar cells 12,
It protects the solar cells 12 of the solar cell panel 113 from radiation and prevents damage due to space debris collision.

The auxiliary panel 13 has a shape and dimensions of:
In consideration of the initial surplus power of the solar cell panels 111, 112, and 113, the solar cells 12 of the solar cell panel 113 can be shielded so that the initial surplus power can be set to a minimum, and the end of the panel life. In the state, the power generated by the solar cell and the solar panels 111 and 11
It is set so that desired power can be secured by the power generated by each of the solar battery cells 2 and 113.

A rotation control unit 16 is connected to the rotation mechanism 14 (see FIG. 1). This rotation control unit 16
Are connected to the solar battery cell outputs of the solar battery panels 111, 112, and 113.
It detects whether or not the output of the photovoltaic cells 112 and 113 has reached a predetermined value, and in a state where the generated power is lower than the predetermined value, generates a drive signal to drive and control the rotating mechanism 14; The rotation of the auxiliary panel 13 is controlled from the first position to the second position.

In the above configuration, the solar cell paddle 11
1, 112 and 113 are transported to outer space in a state where they are folded and accommodated, and are deployed as shown in FIG. 1 via the above-described deploying mechanism (not shown) when they reach the outer space.
At this time, the auxiliary panel 13 is moved to the first
, And a part of the solar cells 12 of the solar cell panel 113 is shielded by the shield part 15 to reduce the power generated by the solar cell panel 113, and the solar cell of the solar cell panel 113. 12 is protected from damage due to collisions such as radiation and space debris.

Here, the solar cell panels 111, 112,
113 is the solar cell 1 of the front panel 113
2 is shielded by the shield part 15 of the auxiliary panel 13, the cell area thereof is reduced, and the generated power is set to such an extent that there is almost no surplus power.

Then, at the end of the panel life, the rotation control unit 16 controls the solar cell panels 111, 112, 11
When it is detected that the generated power of No. 3 becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value, the rotation mechanism 14 is driven to rotate the auxiliary panel 13 to the second position. Here, as the area of the solar cell panel 113 exposed to the sun of the solar cell 12 increases, the solar cell 12 of the auxiliary panel 13 is exposed to the sun to generate power,
The generated power substantially the same as in the initial stage is secured.

As described above, in the solar battery paddle, the auxiliary panel 13 in which the solar battery cells 12 are arranged and the shield portion 15 is provided on the other surface is rotatably disposed on the solar battery panel 113. The auxiliary panel 13 is moved to a first position where the shield part 15 covers a part of the cell surface of the solar cell 12 of the solar cell panel 113 to reduce the cell area of the solar cell 12 of the solar cell panel 113. The auxiliary panel 1
The third shield part 15 protects a part of the solar cell 12 from radiation and the like, and exposes the auxiliary panel 13 to the sun on the entire solar cell surface of the solar cell panel 113 at the end of the panel life. Rotation control of the solar cell 12 surface to the second position where the surface is exposed to the sun is performed to secure desired generated power substantially similar to the initial state.

According to this, surplus power is hardly generated at the initial stage of operation, and the generated power at the end of life can be set to a desired value substantially the same as at the initial stage of operation. Excessive power processing of the shunt dessipator can be reduced, miniaturization and weight reduction can be easily promoted, and stable power supply can be realized for a long period of time.

According to this, the solar cell panel 11
A part of the solar cell 12 can be protected from radiation and space debris by the auxiliary panel until the end of the panel life. It is possible to obtain highly efficient generated power by using the solar cell 12 and the solar cell 12 of the auxiliary panel 13 that can secure the power.

Furthermore, according to this, the solar cell panel 1
11, 112, and 113 can be set to an optimal shape in consideration of their lifespan, and the miniaturization required in the field of space development can be promoted, and the degree of freedom in designing a space vehicle can be improved. Can be easily achieved.

In the above embodiment, the auxiliary panel 1
3 is rotatably provided via a rotating mechanism 14, a first position at which the solar cell 12 of the solar cell panel 113 is shielded via the rotating mechanism 14, and the solar cell 12 is Although the description has been given of the case where the rotation control is performed between the solar cell 1 of the panel 113 and the second position arranged on the substantially same surface, the present invention is not limited to this rotation configuration.
In addition, it is possible to configure so as to control the movement of the auxiliary panel 13 to the first and second positions.

In the above embodiment, the auxiliary panel 1
3 has been described as being disposed at the end of the end panel 113 of the solar cell panels 111, 112, 113 connected in series. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to arrange 13. Then, the auxiliary panel 13 may be arranged on all the solar cell panels 111, 112, 113.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the auxiliary panel 13 is arranged at the end of the solar cell panel 113 in the developing direction has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to arrange so as to be disposed at an end substantially perpendicular to the developing direction.

Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0029]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a solar battery paddle which can realize a stable power supply for a long period of time with a simple configuration and uniform power generation can be achieved. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a solar battery paddle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the auxiliary panel of FIG. 1 is controlled to rotate to a first position.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state where FIG. 2 is viewed from the side.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the auxiliary panel is controlled to rotate to a second position in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional solar battery paddle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Spacecraft body. 111 ... solar cell panel. 112 ... solar cell panel. 113 ... Solar cell panel. 12 ... solar cell. 13 ... Auxiliary panel. 14 ... rotating mechanism. 15 Shield part. 16 A rotation control unit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A solar cell comprising a plurality of solar cells for converting sunlight into electric energy, wherein a plurality of solar cell panels are connected in a foldable and unfoldable manner, and at least one of the plurality of solar cell panels is provided. An auxiliary panel, which is movably provided at one end of one of the photovoltaic cell surfaces, in which the photovoltaic cells are arranged on one surface, and a shield portion for shielding the sunlight on the other surface is provided; The movement of the auxiliary panel is controlled based on the power generated by a battery panel, and the shield portion covers a part of the solar cell surface of the solar cell panel at a first position or the solar cell on the one side is the solar cell. Control means for controlling the panel at a second position disposed substantially on the same plane as the solar cell surface of the panel. 2. The auxiliary panel according to claim 1, wherein the shield portion on the other surface is formed of a metal material.
The described solar cell paddle. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary panel is provided rotatably with respect to the solar cell panel, and is controlled to rotate to the first and second positions.
The described solar cell paddle.