Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
The employment of large, higher power solar arrays for space operation has been considered, taking into account a utilization of high operating voltages. In connection with the consideration of such arrays, attention must be given to the fact that the ambient environment of space contains a tenuous low energy plasma which can interact with the high voltage array causing power 'leakage' and arcing. An investigation has been conducted with the aim to simulate the behavior of such an array in low-earth-orbit (LEO). During the experiments, local concentrations of the 'leakage' current were observed when the panel was at a high voltage. These concentrations could overload or damage a small area of cells in a large string. It was hypothesized that this effect was produced by electrostatic focusing of the particles by the sheath fields. To verify this experimentally, an end-effect Langmuir probe was employed. The obtained results are discussed.
Keywords:
PLASMA PHYSICS
Type:
AIAA PAPER 82-0925
,
Joint Thermophysics, Fluids, Plasma and Heat Transfer Conference; Jun 07, 1982 - Jun 11, 1982; St. Louis, MO
Format:
text
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