Since 1986, ENTECH and NASA Lewis have been developing refractive solar concentrators for space applications. These Fresnel lens concentrators can be configured as either point-focus dome lenses or line-focus cylindrical lenses. Small point-focus or line-focus lenses can be used to concentrate sunlight onto solar cells in space photovoltaic (PV) arrays. Large point-focus lenses can be used for high solar flux applications. In March 1997, a NASA Phase I SBIR program was initiated to develop ultralight inflatable lenses of both the line-focus and point-focus types. Special program emphasis is being placed on large point-focus lenses for various high-concentration applications, including solar dynamic (SD) power, alkali metal thermal energy conversion (AMTEC), thermophotovoltaics (TPV), and solar thermal propulsion (STP). Key outputs of the Phase I program include conceptual designs, optical performance predictions, micrometeoroid puncture analyses, manufacturing process identification, and functional prototype hardware. This paper summarizes the key results of the Phase I program, leading to the conclusion that inflatable dome lenses will provide excellent high-concentration optical performance, unequaled shape error tolerance, extremely low mass/aperture area ratio, proven manufacturability with space qualified materials, and small make-up gas requirements to maintain inflation on-orbit.


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    Titel :

    Ultralight inflatable fresnel lens solar concentrators


    Beteiligte:
    O’Neill, Mark J. (Autor:in) / Piszczor, Michael F. (Autor:in) / El-Genk, Mohamed S. (Herausgeber:in) / Bragg, Mary J. (Herausgeber:in)

    Kongress:

    Space technology and applications international forum - 1998 ; 1998 ; Albuquerque,New Mexico (USA)


    Erschienen in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 420 , 1 ; 288-293


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    15.01.1998


    Format / Umfang :

    6 pages





    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Konferenz)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch



    Ultralight Inflatable Fresnel Lens Solar Concentrators

    O'Neill, M. I. / Piszczor, M. F. / University of New Mexico; School of Engineering; Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1998


    Rigidized inflatable solar energy concentrators

    Schwartz, S. / Bagby, J. | TIBKAT | 1965


    Inflatable Foam-Rigidized Approach To Solar Concentrators

    Zipkin, Morris A. / Edwards, Russell N. | AIAA | 1963


    Inflatable-Rigidizable Solar Concentrators for Space Power Applications

    Redell, Frederick / Kleber, Justin / Lichodziejewski, David et al. | AIAA | 2005


    Inflatable concentrators utilizing NASA LARC polyimides

    Gierow, Paul / Clayton, William | AIAA | 1995