JPS641360B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a solar tracking device for tracking the sun with a solar battery paddle for acquiring electrical energy from sunlight in outer space.

As a method of directing the solar cell surface of the solar cell paddle, which is configured independently from the satellite body, toward the sun, the solar incident angle signal is detected from two systems of solar sensors attached to the paddle, and the paddle A common method is to control a drive signal to drive the paddle.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a solar tracking device configured in such a manner. The sun incidence angle signal output from the sun sensor 3 is input to a paddle drive signal control device 4, and a drive signal controlled by the sun incidence angle signal is output from the paddle drive signal control device 4. The drive device 5 rotates the solar battery paddle 2 by a predetermined amount based on this drive signal.

Usually, each device used in this type of tracking device has a redundant configuration to ensure reliability.

In addition, in order for solar array paddles to efficiently acquire solar energy in outer space, each device is required to exhibit specified performance and comply with specified interface conditions. A high level of control is also required. In this device, if a failure occurs in the main system, the system is switched to the above-mentioned redundant system. However, during the switching, the solar array paddles are not tracked for a certain period of time, resulting in a decrease in the generated power.

An object of the present invention is to provide a solar array paddle solar tracking device that reduces the probability of failure by simplifying the configuration of the device and does not require electric power for tracking operation.

In order to achieve the above object, the solar array paddle solar tracking device according to the present invention is a solar array paddle solar tracking device mounted on an artificial satellite. a paddle system consisting of a structure that integrally connects the plurality of solar cell paddles, a bar-shaped sagittal structure, and a flat plate that is connected to the end of the sagittal structure and has both surfaces with high solar reflectance. It consists of a sun tracking section consisting of a wing-like structure, and a shaft that is rotatable relative to the satellite body and integrally connects the paddle system and the sun tracking section, and when the satellite is launched. A plurality of solar battery paddles and the solar tracking section are folded, and when acquiring solar energy, the plurality of solar battery paddles are unfolded symmetrically about the axis, and the sagittal structure of the solar tracking section The surface of the wing-like structure is expanded perpendicularly to the expanded surface of the paddle, and parallel to the axis, and the expanded solar cell is centered on the axis. The paddle and the sun tracking unit are configured to rotate together.

According to the above configuration, the paddle system can be made to track the sun by the rotational force given by the photons of sunlight colliding with both sides of the blade structure of the sun tracking unit, so no electric power is required for solar tracking. , the reliability of the device itself is improved and the object of the invention is fully achieved.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an artificial satellite equipped with a solar tracking device for a solar array paddle according to the present invention, showing the state in which the solar tracking device is deployed from the main body 1 of the artificial satellite.

The two solar cell paddles 2 are connected to each other by a rigid structure 2a. These two mutually coupled paddles (hereinafter referred to as paddle system) can freely rotate around the center of the satellite body 1. The solar tracking section 6 is composed of a sagittal structure 7 and a wing-like structure 8, which are integrated with each other. This solar tracking section 6 is integrally connected to the paddle system by an axis 9 (rigid structure) passing through the center of the satellite so as to be perpendicular to the paddle surface of the paddle system. At this time, the sagittal structure 7 is on the side of the solar cell surface, the wing-like structure 8 is on the side opposite to the solar cell surface, and the surface is parallel to the axis 9, and the solar cell The paddle is positioned so that sunlight is not blocked. The shape of the sun tracking section 6 approximates the structure of a wind vane on Earth. In a wind vane, the arrow part always points upwind due to the difference in rotational torque around the rotational axis due to the texture applied to the arrow part and the blade part. The solar tracking device according to the present invention operates on the same principle as the wind vane described above, and in this case, it is photons of sunlight that provide the rotational force. When the photon collides with the blade, the reaction generates rotational torque, and the difference in torque causes the arrow part to always move in the direction of the sun (more precisely, parallel to the direction perpendicular to the satellite center within the sun direction). It is positioned as a component (component). As a result, the solar cell surface of the solar cell paddle that is rigidly coupled to the solar tracking section is always oriented in the solar direction (more precisely, the component of the solar direction that is perpendicular and parallel to the solar cell surface). As a result, the solar array can always obtain electrical energy from sunlight with the highest efficiency.

The wing-like structure 8 of the solar tracking unit 6 has a constant area and high sunlight reflectance. The rotational torque difference due to the collision of photons obtained from this wing-like structure 8 overcomes the resistance to rotation due to friction between the rotating portion of the solar array paddle and the satellite body. Since gravity does not work in outer space, the frictional force generated on rotating parts is very small.
It is possible to change the direction of the solar array paddle by the rotational torque obtained by the photon collision. Since the surface of the solar battery paddle is a solar battery cell, its reflectance to sunlight is low, but the surface is treated to further reduce the reflectance.

The solar tracking device is folded and held on the satellite body during launch, and is unfolded after the satellite reaches a predetermined orbit.

As explained in detail above, according to the present invention, unlike conventional devices, the solar sensor, paddle drive signal control device, and solar paddle drive device are all unnecessary, so the power consumption of the satellite is significantly reduced.
The weight is also reduced.

In addition, since it has a very simple structure, the probability of failure is extremely low.
Since it is impossible for the direction of the light beam to change, it exhibits extremely stable control ability. Since the solar tracking device according to the present invention is a passive function, it does not require any energy to maintain its function.

The range of satellites to which the solar tracking device can be applied is not limited by the orbit of the satellite, the satellite attitude control method, etc., as long as the paddle system is dynamically free in the direction of rotation around the satellite.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram systematically illustrating a conventional solar array solar tracking system, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a solar tracking device according to the present invention. 1...Satellite main body, 2...Solar battery paddle, 3...
...sun sensor, 4...paddle drive signal control device,
5... Solar battery paddle drive device, 6... Sun tracking unit, 7... Sagittal structure, 8... Wing-like structure, 9
……shaft.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A solar tracking device for solar battery paddles mounted on an artificial satellite, consisting of a plurality of solar battery paddles made of solar battery elements stretched in a flat plate shape, and a structure 2a that integrally connects the plurality of solar battery paddles. a solar tracking section consisting of a rod-shaped sagittal structure and a flat blade-like structure that is connected to the end of the sagittal structure and has both surfaces with high solar reflectance; It consists of a shaft 9 that is free to rotate relative to the satellite body and that integrally connects the paddle system and the solar tracking unit, and when the satellite is launched, the plurality of solar battery paddles and the solar tracking unit are folded,
When acquiring solar energy, the plurality of solar battery paddles are deployed symmetrically about the axis 9, and the sagittal structure of the solar tracking section is arranged perpendicularly to the deployment surface of the solar battery paddle, and the wing-shaped structure The surface of the object is developed so as to be perpendicular to the development surface of the solar cell paddle and parallel to the axis 9, and the developed solar cell paddle and the solar tracking unit rotate integrally about the axis 9. A solar tracking device for a solar array paddle, characterized in that it is configured as follows.