Title :
Current collection and discharges on high voltage solar array for space use in plasma
Author :
Fujii, Haruhisa ; Abe, Toshio
Author_Institution :
Mitsubishi Electr. Corp., Hyogo, Japan
Abstract :
The authors investigated the interaction of high voltage solar array with plasma simulating low Earth orbit environment. They measured the plasma-coupling currents of DC-voltage biased solar arrays in argon plasma in a large space chamber. At positive bias voltage the plasm-coupling current remarkably increased with increase of bias voltage above 100 V. On the other hand, the current at negative bias voltage was smaller than that at positive bias voltage but discharges occurred at about -200 to 300 V.
Keywords :
aerospace simulation; photovoltaic power systems; plasma simulation; semiconductor device models; solar cell arrays; space vehicle power plants; -200 to 300 V; argon plasma; high voltage solar array; large space chamber; negative bias voltage; plasm simulating low Earth orbit environment; plasma-coupling currents; positive bias voltage; space power; Aluminum; Argon; Gallium arsenide; Glass; Plasma applications; Plasma density; Plasma measurements; Plasma simulation; Plasma temperature; Voltage;
Conference_Titel :
Discharges and Electrical Insulation in Vacuum, 2002. 20th International Symposium on
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-7394-4
DOI :
10.1109/ISDEIV.2002.1027428
