Satellite solar array and method of biasing to reduce seasonal output power fluctuations

Existing satellite solar arrays are deployed perpendicular to the satellite so that they rotate to track the daily movement of the sun to increase the solar array's' output power. In the present invention, the solar arrays (22) are biased by a fixed amount (34) away from the orbit perpendi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author SULLIVAN, JOHN M
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
French
German
Published 29.04.1998
Edition6
Subjects
AIRCRAFT
AVIATION
BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
BLASTING
COSMONAUTICS
ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
ELECTRICITY
HEATING
LIGHTING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
PERFORMING OPERATIONS
RANGES
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
TRANSPORTING
VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
VENTILATING
WEAPONS
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Summary:Existing satellite solar arrays are deployed perpendicular to the satellite so that they rotate to track the daily movement of the sun to increase the solar array's' output power. In the present invention, the solar arrays (22) are biased by a fixed amount (34) away from the orbit perpendicular axis (32) to maximize their minimum output power over the seasons. As the satellite (20) orbits about the earth, the solar array (22) rotates about the orbit perpendicular axis (32) along a conical path so that the array (22) faces towards the sun and maintains its biased attitude with respect to the sun. The biased attitude is preferably selected to equalize the solar array's summer and winter solstice output power minimums, thereby maximizing the worst case output power for a single axis of rotation solar array (22). The solar array (22) is preferably biased by either forming a shim (54) between the solar array drive mechanism (58) and the solar array (22) with the desired bias (34) or by using the Adjustable Solar Wing Actuator (ASWA) available on certain satellites.
Bibliography:Application Number: EP19970112259