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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Structural problems in high power solar photovoltaic arrays technology, discussing configuration, materials selection, thermal control coatings and tests results
Breadboard and prototype models developed for solar constant measuring instrument
Boron diffusion methods for doped lithium solar cells
Theoretical models and spectral reflectance measurements of white pigmented, low solar absorptance coatings for spacecraft temperature control
Three dimensional thermospheric model developed from solar XUV radiation and corpuscular heating during geomagnetic storms of atmospheric system
This report continues studies on cells made with low temperature (<400degC) single-cycle, lithium diffusion schedules. Measurements of concentration of lithium at the back surface showed that C(sub S) changes with time consisting of a build-up to a maximum value (above 10(exp 17) cm(exp -3)) with gradual decrease at longer diffusion times. Using the estimated C(sub S) values, theoretical lithium profiles were calculated. The calculated concentration near the PN junction was higher than those measured by the capacitance voltage (C-V) technique. The calculated concentration gradients were one-seventh of those measured by C-V methods. Both the concentration and its gradient were proportional to C(sub S). Estimates of C(sub S) obtained by extrapolating from C-V measured values of concentration and gradient near the PN junction, showed a decrease in C(sub S) for longer diffusion times. This fact supported the trend observed in Shipment C-13, where,, at longer times, the spread in values of V(sub oc), lithium concentration, and gradient became greater. The general conclusion was that the I-V characteristics were well controlled, with good cell output, but for longer diffusion times the lithium concentration gradient could have wider spread. The work described has led to greater insight into the lithium distribution dependence on the surface conditions. The surface conditions could be changed by varying the method used to apply lithium. Vacuum evaporation of lithium shows promise, and another exhaustive test of this method is in progress. Shipment C-13 is summarized, and the succeeding lots (C-14, C-15) are described. It is felt that improved monitoring of cell properties is at hand, and that the control of cell fabrication processes has advanced to where the effects of subtle differences in lithium distribution can now be seen. Evaluation is continuing on the best method to scale up the fabrication steps. A different sequence of fabrication is planned for Shipments C-14 and C-15.
Conference on lithium doped silicon solar cell development and fabrication methods
Theoretical and experimental work in charged particle and magnetic field research is reported. Activities center on plasma generation and acceleration, ATS 1 data processing for evaluation of magnetospheric substorms and micropulsations during magnetic disturbances, and the development of solar wind model using Mariner observations.
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A brief summary of the symposium is presented along with an outlook for developments in solar physics.
Quasi-trapped and precipitating electrons have been observed with rocket-borne X-ray astronomy detectors in the altitude range 150 to 500 km. Because the flights occured at low magnetic latitudes the electrons were unexpected. Data from many flights are combined to derive altitude dependence, an average electron spectrum, and variation with solar activity. Development of electron-rejecting collimators is discussed, and laboratory and flight data on these collimators are presented.
The relevant design parameters in the fabrication of a solar collector for heating liquids were examined. The objective was to design, fabricate, and test a low-cost, flat-plate solar collector with high collection efficiency, high durability, and requiring little maintenance. Computer-aided math models of the heat transfer processes in the collector assisted in the design. The preferred physical design parameters were determined from a heat transfer standpoint and the absorber panel configuration, the surface treatment of the absorber panel, the type and thickness of insulation, and the number, spacing and material of the covers were defined. Variations of this configuration were identified, prototypes built, and performance tests performed using a solar simulator. Simulated operation of the baseline collector configuration was combined with insolation data for a number of locations and compared with a predicted load to determine the degree of solar utilization.
The effects of semiconvective mixing are investigated in evolutionary sequences of models for stars of 10, 15, and 30 solar masses with four different initial chemical compositions. The models are constructed using the Ledoux criterion for both the definition of convective instability and the state of convective neutrality assumed to be attained in regions with a gradient of mean molecular weight. It is shown that semiconvection is nonexistent at 10 solar masses, of minor importance at 15 solar masses, but covers most of the intermediate zone at 30 solar masses, developing into full convection if the initial hydrogen and metals abundances are high. The effects of low initial hydrogen and metals abundances are examined, and the critical importance is demonstrated of the depths of the semiconvective zone and the outer convective envelope in promoting a blue loop and determining the maximum effective temperature on the loop. The extent of the thermally stable stages of the blue-loop phase is determined.
The growth of electronically viable silicon films on inexpensive foreign substrates is studied, with the objective of creating a technology to radically reduce the overall cost of the silicon employed in photovoltaic solar energy conversion. The approach employed is to enhance crystalline ordering during film nucleation by confining arriving silicon atoms to a narrow band traveling across a substrate, i.e., the Lateral Growth Technique (LGT). The efforts have employed physical vapor deposition of silicon in a vacuum evaporator on glass and metal substrates with both slit masks and single defining edges, and subsequent chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of thicker films on these thin film structures by pyrolysis of silane at higher temperatures.
Innovations in reflectometry techniques are described; and the development of an absorbing selective coating is discussed along with details of surface properties. Conclusions as to the parameterization desired for practical applications of selective surfaces are provided.
The requirements for the design and performance of the Solar 2 Collector Subsystem developed for use in solar heating of single family residences and mobile homes are presented. Installation drawings are included.
The technical and economic feasibility of producing solar cell quality sheet silicon was investigated. It was hoped this could be done by coating one surface of carbonized ceramic substrates with a thin layer of large-grain polycrystalline silicon from the melt. Work was directed towards the solution of unique cell processing/design problems encountered with the silicon-ceramic (SOC) material due to its intimate contact with the ceramic substrate. Significant progress was demonstrated in the following areas; (1) the continuous coater succeeded in producing small-area coatings exhibiting unidirectional solidification and substatial grain size; (2) dip coater succeeded in producing thick (more than 500 micron) dendritic layers at coating speeds of 0.2-0.3 cm/sec; and (3) a standard for producing total area SOC solar cells using slotted ceramic substrates was developed.
A variety of techniques may be used for photovoltaic energy systems. Concentrated or not concentrated sunlight may be employed, and a number of materials can be used, including silicon, gallium arsenide, cadmium sulfide, and cadmium telluride. Most of the experience, however, has been obtained with silicon cells employed without sunlight concentration. An industrial base exists at present for producing solar cells at a price in the range from $15 to $30 per peak watt. A major federal program has the objective to reduce the price of power provided by silicon solar systems to approximately $1 per peak watt in the early 1980's and $0.50 per watt by 1986. The approaches considered for achieving this objective are discussed.