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Comparison of candidate solar array maximum power utilization approachesA study was made of five potential approaches that can be utilized to detect the maximum power point of a solar array while sustaining operations at or near maximum power and without endangering stability or causing array voltage collapse. The approaches studied included: (1) dynamic impedance comparator, (2) reference array measurement, (3) onset of solar array voltage collapse detection, (4) parallel tracker, and (5) direct measurement. The study analyzed the feasibility and adaptability of these approaches to a future solar electric propulsion (SEP) mission, and, specifically, to a comet rendezvous mission. Such missions presented the most challenging requirements to a spacecraft power subsystem in terms of power management over large solar intensity ranges of 1.0 to 3.5 AU. The dynamic impedance approach was found to have the highest figure of merit, and the reference array approach followed closely behind. The results are applicable to terrestrial solar power systems as well as to other than SEP space missions.
Document ID
19770029984
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Costogue, E. N.
(California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena Calif., United States)
Lindena, S.
(Electro-Optical Systems, Inc. Pasadena, Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 8, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1976
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Meeting Information
Meeting: Conference on Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering
Location: State Line, NV
Start Date: September 12, 1976
End Date: September 17, 1976
Accession Number
77A12836
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS7-100
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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