Solar Panel Deployment for Satellites: GFRP Composites

[kashoo]

What is the best suitable ,easy to manufacture and accessibile process of solar panel deployment mechanism for Satellites...
The Solar cells are mounted on Honeycomb Sandwich Panels of GFRP Composites...
Plz give me some useful link regarding this matter...

 

[BobG]

What is the best suitable ,easy to manufacture and accessibile process of solar panel deployment mechanism for Satellites...
The Solar cells are mounted on Honeycomb Sandwich Panels of GFRP Composites...
Plz give me some useful link regarding this matter...

Try googling for gallium arsenide solar array panels and for silicon solar array panels. Silicon is the traditional material used for satellite solar arrays. Gallium arsenide is the newer, improved material for solar arrays.

 

[kashoo]

My question was regarding deployment of solar panels ...not the type of solar arrays...
question is what is the easiest mechanism regarding deployment of solar panels...

 

[gschjetne]

You need an accumulator anyway - to store energy from the solar arrays for use when the sun is covered by Earth. So I'd keep things simple and use an electric motor, and make sure the accumulator is charged before I launch the sattelite.
Dunno how this is done in real life, though.

 

[kashoo]

i need to know the technique behind unfolding of solar panels while launchof satellite has taken place ...the overall system...mechanism ...technique...

 

[brewnog]

Kashoo. How do *you* think they work?

 

[faust9]

i need to know the technique behind unfolding of solar panels while launchof satellite has taken place ...the overall system...mechanism ...technique...

There is no "technique". Each system is designed around some predefined goal. Weight, size, lifespan, usage, etc are all taken into account and then an industrious ME or AE sits down and figures out a way to make a system work within the design constraints. A system may use cables or screws or links or a combination of the three. Heck, you could probably use memory metal if you wanted to.

There are techniques for designing multi-link systems. There are techniques for using pulleys and cables. There are techniques for using screws... But, there is no predefined way to deploy solar panels on a satellite. Each satellite is for the most part unique to begin with, so one cannot say "xxx is the best way for all satellites."

 

[FredGarvin]

Brewnog, I think you should provide a detailed analysis of all possible engineering scenarios. While you're at it a cost analysis and quotes for manufacture would help too. I expect we'll see your post by tomorrow morning.

Kashoo...don't you think you are being a bit lazy with your request. We're not going to do your job for you.

 

[brewnog]

Sorry Fred. I'll admit that I was thinking that this was a sister question to the "expandable arms" thread, I think these "what is the best..." type of questions about very specialised applications are a bit pointless. Satellites are an incredibly diverse type of product, and I dare say each one is unique and has its own idiosyncacies which cannot be addressed by a 'typical' design.

 

[FredGarvin]

I hope my sarcasm came through in that last post.

I agree completely. I also find it humorous that someone would think that there is one best way to do anything (especially dealing with a satellite!) and that there is a web page that will give them step by step instructions.

 

[brewnog]

I hope my sarcasm came through in that last post.

Actually, it didn't! I thought I was being told off...

I agree completely. I also find it humorous that someone would think that there is one best way to do anything (especially dealing with a satellite!) and that there is a web page that will give them step by step instructions.

I suppose is often quite hard for the original poster. A lot of the time, if you need help with something such that you'll ask about it in a forum such as this, you know so little about the topic in question that you're likely to ask some pretty stupid questions. I suppose we've all been there...

Anyway, Kashoo. I know from previous posts that you're not stupid! I'd probably advise you that satellites are inherently very esoteric products and that you aren't going to find a textbook solution. If I were designing a solar panel deployment solution from scratch, I would think that some kind of mechanical cantilever mechanism would be top of my list, but you're not going to find any Haynes manuals on satellites!

Perhaps you could try and find some kind of engineering forum on the internet...

 

[kashoo]

:) Nice to see u ppl share so much knowledge here...anyway we are in process of making explosive bolts...i have adopted a supproted mechanism raher than a cantiliver solution coz at the end of support i have to rotate the panles barcaket by means of motor ...
thanx for making me clear about this deployment mechanism

 

[hitssquad]

Are you launching a satellite, Kashoo?

 

[brewnog]

Are you launching a satellite, Kashoo?

Dear oh dear oh dear.

 

[kashoo]

trying to clear concepts for upcoming projects

 

[Francis M]

:) Nice to see u ppl share so much knowledge here...anyway we are in process of making explosive bolts...i have adopted a supproted mechanism raher than a cantiliver solution coz at the end of support i have to rotate the panles barcaket by means of motor ...
thanx for making me clear about this deployment mechanism

Would some kind of gas pressurized telescoping strut work? I have no idea about how these are actually deployed, don't even know if this very rudimentary idea would even be feasable.

 

[Arctic Fox]

Give an email to NASA asking how they work - they'll tell you.

 

[omicron_2990]

Hi Guys,

What will be the yoke size w.r.t to the panel size. What is the rule of the thumb