Satellite solar array and method of biasing to reduce seasonal output power fluctuations
US5895014A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF24S30/40
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
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 are biased by a fixed amount away from the orbit perpendicular axis to maximize their minimum output power over the seasons. As the satellite orbits about the earth, the solar array rotates about the orbit perpendicular axis along a conical path so that the array 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. The solar array is preferably biased by either forming the shim between the solar array drive mechanism and the solar array with the desired bias or by using the Adjustable Solar Wing Actuator (ASWA) available on certain satellites.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.