JPH10264899A - Solar battery paddle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform an electric connection confirmation in a storage state by mounting a solar battery cell connected to be serial with a solar battery cell mounted on a blanket on the external wall of a pressure board. SOLUTION: A wire harness 15 serially connects a solar battery 14 stuck to the external wall of a pressure board and a solar battery cell mounted on a blanket 1. The blanket 1 on which the thin type solar battery is mounted is folded, the solar battery cell 14 stuck to the external wall of the pressure board 14 is serially connected with the solar battery cell mounted on the blanket 1 by the wire harness 15, even if a container part 3 is in its storage state, and the solar battery cell 14 stuck to the external wall of the pressure board 4 is made its exposed state. Thus, a rise in output power can be confirmed by a satellite testing device in an electric connection confirmation after this paddle is incorporated into a satellite main body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flexible solar cell paddle that is mounted on a space vehicle such as an artificial satellite and deployed in orbit, converts solar energy into electric energy, and supplies power to the satellite. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a satellite mounted on an orbit and deployed in orbit to convert solar energy into electrical energy.
It is a figure which shows the storage state of the flexible type solar cell paddle which supplies electric power to a satellite, In the figure, 1 is mounted | worn with the thin solar cell 2 for generating electric power, and several sheets which consist of a thin film polymer material are shown. Blanket, 3 is a container part composed of a pressure board 4 and a container base 5 which sandwich the blanket at the time of launch and protect it from the external environment, 6 is a mast extension mechanism for pulling out and expanding the blanket on orbit, and 7 is a blanket after being expanded The boom for moving the blanket and the extension mast so that the shadow of the satellite mounted antenna etc. does not fall on the solar cell attached to 9 is a holding and releasing mechanism that allows the paddle to be deployed, and rotates the solar cell mounting surface in one direction in the sun direction. It is a paddle drive mechanism for transmitting the generated power and the electric signal to the internal satellite. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a deployed state. Reference numeral 10 denotes a connector for transmitting electric power generated by the solar cell 2 to the paddle drive mechanism 9.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration when the solar battery paddle is incorporated into the satellite main body and when electrical connection is confirmed.
1 is a satellite main body, 12 is a solar cell paddle test jig which suspends and holds a solar cell paddle main body, and has a mechanism for adjusting the height direction of the satellite main body 11 with respect to the mounting position of the solar cell paddle, and 13 is an electrical state of the satellite. And a satellite test device for confirming the performance.

[0003] A conventional flexible solar cell paddle is configured as described above.
In a state in which the plurality of blankets 1 on which the solar cells 2 are mounted are folded and stored in the container section 3, the solar cell paddle test jig 1 is mounted together with the mast extension mechanism 6 and the boom 7.
2, the paddle drive mechanism 9 previously attached to the satellite main body 11 is mechanically connected to the connector 10 and then connected to the connector 10. Then, as shown in FIG. In order to simulate the initial extension state of the solar cell paddle above, the holding / release mechanism 8 holding the container unit 3 is released, the mast extension mechanism 6 is operated, and the solar cell 2 mounted on the blanket 1 is exposed. By irradiating the solar cell 2 with a light source, the satellite test apparatus 13 confirms an increase in output power. Furthermore, after the plurality of blankets 1 in the initial extended state are stored in the container section 3 by operating the mast extension mechanism 6, the boom 7 is folded and supported and stored in the satellite main body 11 by the holding and releasing mechanism 8. I have.

[0004]

In the conventional flexible solar cell paddle as described above, the holding and releasing mechanism 8 is used for confirming the electrical connection after being incorporated in the satellite main body 11.
It is necessary to operate the mast extension mechanism 6 to release the plurality of blankets 1 stored in the container portion 3 to expose the solar cells 2 mounted on the blanket 1, and to check the electrical connection. There was a problem that it took about seven days as the number of working days including the later storing work.

[0005] Further, by handling the plurality of blankets 1 folded and stored in the container section 3 into the expanded state and then into the stored state again, the thin solar cell 2 may be damaged. In addition, there is a problem that the generated power is reduced on the orbit or an open failure is caused by a short circuit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and enables electrical connection confirmation when mounted on a satellite main body in a stored state. It aims to provide a flexible solar cell paddle.

[0007]

A flexible solar cell paddle according to the first invention is provided with a blanket on an outer wall of a pressure board so that an electric connection at the time of attachment to a satellite body can be checked while the solar cell paddle is stored. A solar cell connected in series with the solar cell mounted on the solar cell is mounted.

Further, in the flexible solar cell paddle according to the second invention, a light collector is mounted on the outer wall of the pressure board so that the electric connection at the time of mounting on the satellite main body can be checked while the solar cell paddle is stored. The optical fiber cable to be connected is routed and attached to the solar cell mounted on the blanket.

Further, the flexible solar cell paddle according to the third aspect of the present invention is provided with a solar cell pad mounted on a blanket in parallel with a solar cell paddle so that the electric connection at the time of attachment to the satellite main body can be checked in a stored state. After connecting / routing a wire harness so as to obtain two terminals on the outer wall of the pressure board.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a flexible solar cell paddle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which enables electrical connection confirmation at the time of attachment to a satellite main body in a state where the solar cell paddle is stored. In, 1 to 1
Numeral 0 is exactly the same as the above-mentioned conventional flexible solar cell paddle. Numeral 14 denotes a solar cell mounted on the outer wall of the pressure board. FIG. 1 shows a case where the solar cell is mounted on the center of the pressure board. FIG. 2 is an electric block diagram of the present invention. Reference numeral 15 denotes a wire harness that connects the solar cells 14 attached to the outer wall of the pressure board and the solar cells 2 mounted on the blanket 1 in series.

In the flexible solar battery paddle configured as described above, even if the plurality of blankets 1 on which thin solar cells are mounted are folded and the container portion 3 is in a stored state, the wire harness 15 Thus, the solar cells 14 connected in series with the solar cells 2 mounted on the blanket 1 and attached to the outer wall of the pressure board 4 are in an exposed state. Therefore, in confirming the electrical connection after being incorporated into the satellite main body 11,
By irradiating the solar cell 14 with a light source, the irradiated light energy is converted into electric energy and transmitted through the paddle drive mechanism 9 via the connection path of the solar cell 2 mounted on the blanket 1 and the connector 10. Therefore, it is possible to confirm an increase in output power with the satellite test apparatus 13 in the same manner as in the electrical connection confirmation performed when the blanket 1 is in the initial expanded state.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a flexible solar cell paddle according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which enables an electric connection check at the time of attachment to a satellite main body in a state where the solar cell paddle is stored. , 1 to 10 are exactly the same as the above-mentioned conventional flexible solar cell paddle. Reference numeral 16 denotes a light collector attached to the outer wall of the pressure board, and reference numeral 17 denotes an optical fiber cable routed from the light collector to the solar cell 2 mounted on an arbitrary blanket 1.

In the flexible solar cell paddle constructed as described above, even if the blanket 1 on which the thin solar cells 2 are mounted is folded and stored in the container section 3, the blanket 1 Fiber optic cable 1 routed to solar cell 2 mounted on
A condenser 16 connected to 7 is mounted on the outer wall of the pressure board 4. Therefore, in confirming the electrical connection after assembling into the satellite main body 11, by irradiating the light source to the light collector 16, the irradiated light amount is guided to the optical fiber cable 17 and is transmitted to the solar cell 2 mounted on the blanket 1. The irradiated light energy is converted into electric energy, and is transmitted through the connection path of the solar cell 2 mounted on the blanket 1 and further through the paddle driving mechanism 9 via the connector 10, and thus the blanket It is possible to confirm an increase in the output power with the satellite test device 13 in the same manner as in the electrical connection confirmation performed when 1 is in the initial expanded state.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a flexible solar cell paddle according to a third embodiment of the present invention, which enables electrical connection confirmation at the time of attachment to a satellite main body while the solar cell paddle is stored. , 1 to 10 are exactly the same as the above-mentioned conventional flexible solar cell paddle. Reference numeral 18 denotes two terminals mounted on the outer wall of the pressure board. FIG. 2 shows a case where the terminal is mounted on the center of the pressure board. FIG. 5 is an electric block diagram of the present invention. Reference numeral 19 denotes a wire harness for connecting a terminal 18 mounted on the outer wall of the pressure board and a solar cell 2 mounted on the blanket 1 in parallel.

In the flexible solar cell paddle constructed as described above, even if the plurality of blankets 1 on which the thin solar cells 2 are mounted are folded and stored in the container section 3, the wire harness is provided. The terminal 18 connected in parallel with the solar cell 2 mounted on the blanket 1 by 19 and attached to the outer wall of the pressure board 4 is exposed. Therefore, in the electrical connection confirmation after the incorporation into the satellite main body 11, by measuring the resistance between the two terminals 18, the electrical connection is confirmed in the same manner as the electrical connection confirmation performed with the blanket 1 in the initial extended state. It is possible to confirm the dynamic connection.

In the above description, the present invention has been described in connection with the case where the pressure board constituting the flexible solar cell paddle is used, but it goes without saying that other components of the solar cell paddle can be used.

[0017]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the solar cell connected in series with the solar cell mounted on the blanket is mounted on the outer wall of the pressure board, thereby confirming the electrical connection after being incorporated into the satellite body. Can be carried out in the state where the blanket is stored, and the number of working days can be reduced. Further, it is possible to reduce the number of times of handling the blanket, to prevent damage to the solar cells during handling, and to prevent a reduction in power generated in orbit or an open failure due to a short circuit.

According to the second aspect, the concentrator is mounted on the outer wall of the pressure board, and the optical fiber cable to be connected is routed to the solar cell mounted on the blanket to be mounted. The connection check can be performed with the blanket stored, and the number of working days can be reduced. Further, it is possible to reduce the number of times of handling the blanket, to prevent damage to the solar cells during handling, and to prevent a reduction in power generated in orbit or an open failure due to a short circuit.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by attaching the terminal via the wire harness connected in parallel with the solar cell mounted on the blanket to the outer wall of the pressure board, the terminal after assembling into the satellite main body is provided. The electrical connection check can be performed in the state where the blanket is stored, and the number of working days can be reduced. Further, it is possible to reduce the number of times of handling the blanket, to prevent damage to the solar cells during handling, and to prevent a reduction in power generated in orbit or an open failure due to a short circuit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a flexible solar cell paddle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing electric blocks of a flexible solar cell paddle according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a flexible solar cell paddle according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a flexible solar cell paddle according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing electric blocks of a flexible solar cell paddle according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a storage state of a conventional flexible solar cell paddle.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a deployed state of a conventional flexible solar cell paddle.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional flexible solar cell paddle when assembled into a satellite body and when electrical connection is confirmed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 blanket, 2 solar cell, 3 container part, 4 pressure board, 5 container base, 6
Mast extension mechanism, 7 boom, 8 holding and releasing mechanism, 9
Paddle drive mechanism, 10 connector, 11 satellite body, 1
2 Solar cell paddle test jig, 13 Satellite test equipment, 1
4 solar cells, 15 wire harness, 16 concentrator, 17 optical fiber cable, 18 terminal, 1
9 Wire harness.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of blankets on which solar cells for generating electric power are mounted, a pressure board for sandwiching the plurality of blankets and protecting the environment from an external environment, and a solar cell paddle surface is rotated in one direction in the sun direction. In a solar battery paddle having a paddle drive mechanism for transmitting generated power and an electric signal to the inside of the satellite, a solar battery cell connected in series with the solar battery cell for confirming electrical connection after being incorporated into the satellite. Is mounted on the pressure board. 2. A plurality of blankets on which solar cells for generating electric power are mounted, a pressure board for sandwiching the plurality of blankets and protecting them from the external environment, and a solar cell paddle surface is rotated in one direction in the sun direction. In a solar battery paddle having a paddle drive mechanism for transmitting generated power and an electric signal to the inside of a satellite, a light collector attached to the pressure board, and a light collector connected between the light collector and the solar cell And a fiber optic cable for transmitting the light condensed by the concentrator to the solar cell. 3. A plurality of blankets on which solar cells for generating electric power are mounted, a pressure board for sandwiching the plurality of blankets and protecting the environment from the external environment, and a solar cell paddle surface is rotated in one direction in the sun direction. A solar paddle having a paddle drive mechanism for transmitting generated power and an electric signal to the inside of a satellite, comprising: two terminals mounted on the pressure board; and a wire harness for connecting the terminals and the solar cells in parallel. A solar battery paddle comprising: