Dutch Space Thin Film Solar Cells

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Dutch Space Thin Film Solar Cells

• Design and performance of innovative solar cells

B.S.M. van Schie
Faculty of Aerospace Engineering Faculty of
Electrical engineering, Mathematics Computer
Science
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TFSC Concept

• First flight opportunity
• Innovative technology
• Thin film titanium substrate 25 µm
• High power to mass ratio
• Very low stack height
• IV-curve measurement
• Temperature measurement
• Modular payload

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TFSC Characteristics

• No cover glass
• Emissivity-enhancing and encapsulating dielectric
  coating
• A mass reduction of 25 compared to conventional
  GaAs cells
• A power/mass ratio twice as
• high as in case of GaAs cells

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TFSC Frame

• TFSC payload consists of two TFSCs placed in
  series at the tip of each of the four Solar
  panels
• TFSC Frame is made of Titanium Ti-6Al-4V
• The length of the frame arms is 85mm
• The cells are connected to the frame through
  pressure contacts

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I/V Curve Measurements

• I/V curves describe the performance of solar
  cells
• The open circuit voltage and the short circuit
  current are measured
• 8 measurement points are distributed evenly over
  the IV-curve
• Measurement time of ?t 1 ms
• Range from 0 mV to 1500 mV and from 0 mA to 1100
  mA

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Temperature Measurements

• A strip of the TFSC will be used as a Resistor
  Temperature Detector
• Optical properties determine temperature
• RTDs operate on the principle of changes in
  electrical resistance of metals and are
  characterized by a linear positive change in
  resistance with temperature
• A temperature range of -50 C to 120 C can be
  measured
• The TFSC Temperature Strip electrical resistance
  is measured by means of a four point measurement,
  as the resistance is very low

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A Fast, Affordable and Innovative Technology
Demonstrator
TU-Delft's first university satellite
Developed by students
Faculteit Luchtvaart- en Ruimtevaarttechniek Facul
teit Elektrotechniek, Wiskunde en Informatica