Solar Batteries

The introductory part of this paper will provide a brief summary of how recent advances in military electronics for ground and space applications have created an urgent need for new energy sources and power supplies. In this search for new sources of power, considerable attention is being devoted to the utilization of solar energy. A short summary will be provided of the applications of USA-SRDL-developed solar cells in the satellite field to date. This will include a discussion of the apparent reliability and efficiency of solar cells in operating situations and the environmental factors affecting solar cells. A brief discussion will be given of the various methods of mounting solar cells with succinct comments on the advantages and disadvantages of different methods. Reference will also be made to USASRDL quality control methods and the quality vs cost problem. The primary portion of the paper will be devoted to a detailed discussion of those energy conversion devices which employ static methods for direct conversion of solar energy to electrical energy, i.e., those types which utilize the thermoelectric, Edison (thermionic emission), photovoltaic and photoemission effects. The relative merits of these systems based on present and anticipated conversion efficiencies are reviewed, in brief, for guidance as to future possibilities of these types of devices and their utilization in the satellite program.