U.S. welding technology - Constraints to space implementationU.S. and European efforts to develop welding techniques for satellite solar arrays are described. Soldering practices in the U.S. have benefitted from Mo solders, which are well fitted to Si solar cell material thermal characteristics. Analyses have indicated that welds are the preferred method for interconnections and bonds. Extensive work has been done with the parallel gap resistance method (RW), which involves process heat generated by passing a current through resistive layers. Confining the primary heat input to the interconnector/cell contact interface results in welds being formed beneath both electrodes. Pulse welding has become the dominant RW technique in Europe, while ultrasonic welding is used in the U.S.; silver is employed as the interconnect material on both continents. The bonding techniques have been developed empirically instead of theoretically. An IR inspection technique has been produced for monitoring the weld temperature.
Document ID
19830046031
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Stella, P. M. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1982
Subject Category
Mechanical Engineering
Meeting Information
Meeting: IECEC ''82; Seventeenth Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference