Space Solar Cell String Protection Layout for Replaceable Diodes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing designs for space solar cells face challenges in reliability and maintenance due to the integrated arrangement of string protection diodes, which complicates production and makes repairs economically and practically infeasible, especially under intense sunlight conditions where heat dissipation is inadequate, leading to potential failures and increased waste.
Innovation Solution
The arrangement of space solar cells with string protection diodes integrated on the front of the strand using a metal strip and separate covers for each diode, allowing for reduced wiring effort on the back, easier replacement of defective diodes, and improved thermal management through high reflectance and infrared transparency, enhancing reliability and reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If string protection diodes are integrated on the front of the strand with common cover glass, then wiring complexity on the back is reduced, but repairability deteriorates as defective parts cannot be easily replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the protective cover glass into separate individual cover glasses for each string protection diode, rather than using a single common cover glass. This segmentation allows each diode to be accessed and replaced independently while maintaining the simplified front-side integration architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
Each string protection diode is provided with its own dedicated cover glass and mounting structure, creating localized protection zones. This local quality approach enables selective replacement of defective diodes without affecting other components, resolving the repairability issue while preserving the integrated design benefits.
2Reliability
If string protection diodes are exposed to intense sunlight, then they perform their protective function, but heat dissipation becomes inadequate leading to potential failures
Solution Approach 1:
By providing separate cover glasses for each diode rather than a single common cover, the patent enables independent thermal management zones. Each diode's heat dissipation can be optimized without affecting others, allowing better thermal performance under intense sunlight conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the thermal parameters by creating individual thermal zones for each diode through separate covers. This allows each diode to operate within optimal temperature ranges even under intense solar irradiation, preventing thermal runaway and potential failures.
3Ease of repair
If separate cover glass is provided for each string protection diode, then repairability improves as defective diodes can be replaced individually, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation by providing individual cover glasses for each diode, which directly enables the repairability improvement. The modular structure allows defective diodes to be replaced independently without disassembling the entire assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the complexity issue by organizing the multiple cover glasses in a systematic spatial arrangement on the front side of the strand. This dimensional organization makes the increased number of components manageable and does not significantly increase overall device complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If common cover glass is used for multiple diodes, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but reliability deteriorates as heat dissipation is inadequate under intense sunlight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the thermal management system by providing separate cover glasses for each diode. This creates independent thermal zones that improve heat dissipation under intense sunlight while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes through standardized individual components.
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
This configuration significantly reduces the complexity of wiring, allows for easier replacement of individual diodes, improves thermal management, and increases the reliability of space solar cells by maintaining high reflectance and efficient heat dissipation, thus addressing the limitations of the prior art.
Implementation Method 1
The arrangement allows for reduced wiring effort on the back, easier replacement of defective diodes, and improved thermal management through high reflectance and infrared transparency
Implementation Method 2
The arrangement allows for reduced wiring effort on the back, easier replacement of defective diodes, and improved thermal management through high reflectance and infrared transparency
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a~2e
AI summary
Protection of space solar cells in an arrangement in the form of a string extending in an X-direction, in which two space solar cells immediately adjacent in the X-direction are electrically connected in series by means of a metallic connector of a first type, and the string has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a protective arrangement extending along a y-direction is formed immediately at one of the two ends, wherein the protective arrangement comprises a first string protection diode extending in the Y-direction, a metal strip, and a second string protection diode, and the protective arrangement is electrically connected to one of the two ends of the string by means of two spaced-apart metal strips, and each string protection diode is unhoused and has exactly one metal contact on the top and exactly one metal contact on the bottom.and the first string protection diode and the second string protection diode are each connected to the metal strip by means of an electrical connector of a second type.