CdTe terrestrial modules as a power source for a regenerative fuel cell power plant for space applications

Author

Edwards, H. Sam ; Smith, Garyl D. ; Voecks, Gerald ; Rohatgi, Naresh ; Prokopius, Paul ; Zweibel, Kenneth ; Hoelscher, James F.

Author_Institution

Weapons Div., Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, CA, USA

fYear

1996

fDate

13-17 May 1996

Firstpage

337

Lastpage

340

Abstract

Three US Government agencies-NASA Lewis Research Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Department of Defense Photovoltaics Review Committee (PVRC), and the Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory-are combining resources, manpower and technology in a unique, multi-agency, cooperative demonstration project involving CdTe thin film terrestrial solar cell modules and a fuel cell system being developed for applications on the Moon or other planets. A prototype system is nearing completion at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The system is powered by two separate 25 kW CdTe PV arrays, one manufactured by Solar Cells Inc. and the other by Golden Photon Inc. The other major subsystems are the electrolyzer system, which separates water into hydrogen and oxygen, and the fuel cell, where the stored hydrogen and oxygen are recombined to produce heat, electricity and water

Keywords

II-VI semiconductors; cadmium compounds; fuel cell power plants; fuel cells; photovoltaic power systems; project engineering; semiconductor thin films; solar cell arrays; solar cells; solar power stations; space power generation; space vehicle power plants; 25 kW; CdTe; H₂-O₂; Moon; demonstration project; planets; regenerative fuel cell; research efforts; space power applications; terrestrial solar cell modules; thin film semiconductors; Fuel cells; Hydrogen; Laboratories; Photovoltaic cells; Propulsion; Renewable energy resources; Transistors; US Government; Water heating; Water storage;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1996., Conference Record of the Twenty Fifth IEEE

Conference_Location

Washington, DC

ISSN

0160-8371

Print_ISBN

0-7803-3166-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.1996.564014

Filename

564014