jeff ely angel henderson thermoelectric solar power generation for space applications
TRANSCRIPT
Jeff Ely
Angel Henderson
THERMOELECTRIC SOLAR POWER GENERATION FOR
SPACE APPLICATIONS
INTRODUCTION
Team members include Jeff Ely and Angel Henderson
from the Old Dominion University MAE department, Iseley Marshall
from the University of South Dakota in material science,
Dr Jin Ho Kangresearch staff at the NIA in cooperation with NASA Langley.
And the help of a few otherNIA and NASA staff
PROBLEM + SOLUTION
Problem definitionExpensive maintenanceHigh deployment costsHarsh environmental conditionsHigh sustainability requirement
Design CriteriaLightweightFlexibleCheap materials
WHY THERMOELECTRIC?
Conventional photovoltaic'sHeavyFragileExpensiveSustainable
Thermoelectric panels could be much better suited for space applications by improving each factor.
DESIGN CONCEPT
Light-weight
FlexibleCheap
materials
SPRING AND SUMMER 2011
TESTING PHASE
Eff ects of each coating were tested individually on conventional thermoelectric modules at 1 sun intensity (100mW/cm2)
Control – no coatingLow emissivity top sideHigh absorptivity top sideHigh emissivity bottom side
TEST SETUP
Photo of testing apparatus
TEST SETUP
Thermocouple #1 Room temperatureThermocouple #2 3 inches above TE moduleThermocouple #3 Top surface of TE moduleThermocouple #4 Bottom surface of TE moduleThermocouple $5 3 inches below TE module
Programs Figures:
Real time data creates a graph with custom axes
Data stored in database in real time
6300 readings for temperature, voltage, and current.
LABVIEW FEATURES FOR PROJECT
LABVIEW FEATURES FOR PROJECT
Figure 1-10 The lab view software that record the experiment data in real time
SOLAR CELL TESTING
EXAMPLE DATA AT 0˚C
EXAMPLE DATA AT 0˚C
Results show the validity of the design concept!
RESULTS SUMMARIZED
MANUFACTURING PROCESS
ObstaclesElectrical grid slipSmall sizeHigh precision
requirement
Utilizing a templatePlace semiconductor blockssilver based epoxyAluminum electrical networkPlace polyamide surface with epoxyFlip TE, remove templateRepeat on other sideApply coatings
MANUFACTURING PROCESS
MANUFACTURING PROCESS
Use of a templateAids in the
manufacturingDealt with printer
imprecisionTemplate revision
processFinal product
MANUFACTURING PROCESS
Printer Test piece
2.2 2.5 2.8 3.0 3.2 3.4
MANUFACTURING PROCESS
Design Changes3.1mm square hole6mm boundary
MANUFACTURING PROCESS
The Deliverable
GANTT CHART
QUESTIONS?