Solar Array Circuit Reconfiguration for Transfer Orbit Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar array circuitry designs for spacecraft, such as the Boeing 702 satellite, underutilize power during transfer orbit due to excess voltage at Beginning of Life (BOL), leading to inefficient energy production as the additional voltage is not utilized until End of Life (EOL) when solar cell performance degrades.
Innovation Solution
Reassigning solar cells from inboard panels not needed during BOL to outboard panels and bypassing inboard panel circuits during transfer orbit using bypass diodes or switches, allowing for passive series connection when inboard panels are illuminated, thereby maximizing power output without adding extra solar cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If solar cells are allocated to inboard panels for BOL operation, then beginning of life power is maintained, but transfer orbit power is underutilized due to excess voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic circuit reconfiguration that changes the solar array's electrical topology based on operational phase. During transfer orbit, the system dynamically switches to utilize outboard panel circuits that were previously dormant, converting a static allocation into a dynamic, adaptive configuration that maximizes power extraction at each orbital phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the electrical parameters of the solar array by reassigning solar cell circuits from inboard to outboard panels. This parameter change allows the system to operate with different effective series resistance and voltage configurations, enabling utilization of previously excess voltage during transfer orbit while maintaining BOL performance through the same total circuit count.
2Power
If solar cell circuits are reassigned from inboard to outboard panels, then transfer orbit power increases, but inboard panel circuit availability during BOL may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal solar array configuration where circuits are not permanently dedicated to specific panels but can serve multiple functions across different operational phases. The same solar cell circuits that support inboard panels during BOL are reassigned to support outboard panels during transfer orbit, making the system multi-functional across its operational lifecycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention temporarily discards the conventional fixed allocation of circuits to specific panels and recovers performance by reassigning those same circuits to different panels at different times. The circuits are not lost or damaged but are strategically reallocated to match operational requirements, recovering potential power that would otherwise be wasted as excess voltage.
3Power
If bypass diodes are added to bypass inboard panel circuits, then transfer orbit power is maximized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the functional requirement of power maximization from the complex active control system and implements it through passive circuit elements. By taking out the need for active switching and control electronics, the solution uses simple bypass diodes and reconfiguration of existing circuits to achieve the same power maximization goal with reduced complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solar array configuration is designed to automatically self-configure for optimal power extraction during transfer orbit through the passive characteristics of bypass diodes and the inherent electrical connections. The system serves itself by utilizing the natural electrical behavior of the reconfigured circuits without requiring external control or complex active management during the transfer orbit phase.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves approximately 20% more power during transfer orbit and 16% gain in stowed power without increasing the total number of solar cells, by optimizing the circuit arrangement and utilizing excess voltage at BOL.
Implementation Method 1
a first plurality of solar cells allocated to at least one circuit on an inboard panel of the solar array
Implementation Method 2
connecting at least one bypass diode in parallel with at least one circuit on the inboard panel that the assigned solar cell(s) is from
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and apparatus are disclosed for a solar array transfer orbit power maximizer. The present disclosure teaches a solar array circuitry design that can produce more stowed transfer orbit power than the traditional solar array. The disclosed design is able to achieve the additional stowed transfer orbit power by simply reassigning circuits without adding additional solar cells. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves allocating a first plurality of solar cells to at least one circuit on an inboard panel of the solar array, and allocating a second plurality of solar cells to at least one circuit on an outboard panel of the solar array. The method further involves assigning at least one solar cell from at least one circuit on the inboard panel that is not needed during beginning of life (BOL) to at least one circuit on the outboard panel of the solar array.