The Flexible Array Concentrator Technology (FACT) is a lightweight, high-performance reflective concentrator blanket assembly that can be used on flexible solar array blankets. The FACT concentrator replaces every other row of solar cells on a solar array blanket, significantly reducing the cost of the array. The modular design is highly scalable for the array system designer, and exhibits compact stowage, good offpointing acceptance, and mass/cost savings. The assembly’s relatively low concentration ratio, accompanied by a large radiative area, provides for a low cell operating temperature, and eliminates many of the thermal problems inherent in high-concentration-ratio designs. Unlike other reflector technologies, the FACT concentrator modules function on both z-fold and rolled flexible solar array blankets, as well as rigid array systems.
This innovation will enable future ultra-high-power missions through lowcost (25 to 50% cost savings, depending on PV and blanket technology), lightweight, high specific power (>200 to 400 W/kg BOL (beginning-of-life) at the wing level depending on PV and blanket technology), compact stowage volume (>50 kW/m3 for very large arrays), high reliability, platform simplicity (low failure modes), high deployed strength/stiffness when scaled to huge sizes, and high-voltage operation capability. Mega-ROSA is adaptable to all photovoltaic and concentrator flexible blanket technologies, and can readily accommodate standard multi-junction and emerging ultra-lightweight IMM (inverted metamorphic) photovoltaic flexible blanket assemblies, as well as ENTECHs Stretched Lens Array (SLA) and DSSs (Deployable Space Systems’) FACT, which allows for cost reduction at the array level.
The SOLAROSA technology embodiment is the fusion of a mass-optimized ROSA structural system integrated to a new version of ENTECH’s lightweight SLA (Stretched Lens Array) linear refractive concentrator blanket assembly. The SOLAROSA flexible blanket concentrator solar array can be rolled or z-folded, and enables NASA’s emerging Space Science and Exploration highvoltage solar electric propulsion (SEP) missions.
This innovation is a potentially revolutionary solar array that provides gamechanging performance in terms of high specific power (>400 to 500 W/kg BOL at wing level), affordability (>50% projected cost savings at the array level), light weight, high deployed stiffness, high deployed strength, compact stowage volume (>60 to 80 kW/m3 BOL), reliability, high radiation tolerance, high-voltage operation capability, scalability, and LILT and HIHT operation capability (LILT— low intensity low temperature; HIHT— high intensity high temperature).
This work was done by Brian Spence, Steve White, Kevin Schmid, and Mark Douglas of Deployable Space Systems, Inc. for Glenn Research Center.
Inquiries concerning rights for the commercial use of this invention should be addressed to NASA Glenn Research Center, Innovative Partnerships Office, Attn: Steven Fedor, Mail Stop 4–8, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44135. LEW-18833/4/5-1
