Innovative solutions for microsatellites photovoltaic power generation, 24-28 settembre 2007, IAC pa-per n IAC-07- C.3.3

In this project we would test terrestrial grade high efficiency triple-junction solar cells considering a simple concentrator system that makes use of inexpensive materials such as plastic lenses to capture solar energy shining on a fairly large area and focus that energy on a smaller area, where the solar cell is. The development of a collector module requires a lens of large aperture and short focal length without the weight and volume of material which would be required in conventional lens design: Fresnel lens. In order to compare different cost for watt and find the better solution for our application, we tested three different kind of solar cells: silicon solar cells, space triple junction solar cells and terrestrial grade high efficiency triple junction solar cells. Laboratory tests did not give good results using commercial Fresnel lenses considering gravity gradient attitude control. In future applications we would like to consider better optical devices according to reasonable costs. In order to keep low UNISAT program cost carrying out new technological challenges, we would exploite this new technology with the aim to use something innovative and more efficient in low cost microsatellite power system.