FY18-C1 GRC: Self-Extinguishing Arcs: Engineering a Solution to Generalized High Voltage Solar Arrays

This project envisions a smart peripheral device that will add durability to existing solar arrays and increase resiliency to high-voltage induced arcing. The device is an active system designed to detect and quench damage-inducing arcs caused by the space plasma in high voltage arrays at ultrafast time scales; and, a unique approach to maintaining predictable levels of system power, increasing specific power and enabling high voltage solar array applications such as direct-drive solar electric propulsion (DD-SEP). The device thus enables higher array voltages, allowing for more efficient, higher voltage arrays, volume production techniques to reduce cost, and system health management. The goal of this research and development effort is to demonstrate feasibility of an active bypass diode to function in conjunction with an arc-detector circuit to from a fast arc-arrester.

Near term benefits include the ability to reduce mission-specific solar array design in favor of standardized, off-the-shelf designs that can then take advantage of automated assembly and economies of greater scale to reduce costs. Furthermore, the benefits of the technology include positive impact on reliability/durability of the arrays as well as extracting greater power from arrays as they degrade compared with the status quo. Further term benefits are interesting as well, as the device envisioned can be analogous to a “Fitbit™” for solar arrays, and provide health monitoring, arc inception and quenching information, and environmental and usage information that could enable next generation analytics to provide deep understanding of the plasma interaction with solar arrays and spacecraft charging. It is even possible that the device could be utilized to deliver health monitoring and prognostics using onboard artificial learning algorithms.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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