The infra red reflecting coverglass for silicon and GaAs solar cells used in near Earth and geostationary orbits

Author

Jones, G. ; Mullaney, K. ; Kitchen, C. ; Larue, J.C.

Author_Institution

Pilkington Space Technol., Bodelwyddan, UK

Volume

2

fYear

1994

fDate

5-9 Dec 1994

Firstpage

2054

Abstract

An infra red reflecting (IRR) coating has been developed at Space Technology for use with solar cell coverglasses. The IRR coating substantially improves the thermo-optical properties of solar cell assemblies (SCAs) so allowing the array to run cooler and represents a significant advance over established UV reflective coatings. In-orbit efficiency gains of between 2 and 6% have been predicted for a variety of solar cell types and orbits. The potential benefits of this technology are greatest for nonreflective silicon solar cells but equally so for gallium arsenide. The paper gives details of the development including the results of optimisation, potential benefits in orbit (theoretical and practical) and the proposed test programme

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; elemental semiconductors; gallium arsenide; optical films; photovoltaic power systems; semiconductor device testing; semiconductor materials; silicon; solar cells; space vehicle power plants; GaAs; GaAs solar cells; Si; Si solar cells; Space Technology; geostationary orbit; infra red reflecting coverglass; near Earth orbits; nonreflective silicon solar cells; optimisation; solar cell assemblies; test programme; thermo-optical properties; Coatings; Earth; Filters; Gallium arsenide; Optical materials; Orbits; Photovoltaic cells; Silicon; Space technology; Temperature;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 1994., Conference Record of the Twenty Fourth. IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 1994, 1994 IEEE First World Conference on

Conference_Location

Waikoloa, HI

Print_ISBN

0-7803-1460-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/WCPEC.1994.520774

Filename

520774