The stretched lens ultralight concentrator array

This paper describes a new type of space photovoltaic array, including test results for the first fully functional prototype panel. The stretched lens array (SLA) is a high-efficiency, ultralight, stowable, folding-blanket concentrator array. A prototype SLA panel has been performance tested at NASA GRC, with results confirming 27.4% net efficiency (375 W/sq.m areal power) under AM0 sunlight at room temperature. Furthermore, the total prototype panel areal mass, including stretched membrane Fresnel lens concentrators, fully assembled triple-junction cell receivers, and graphite cloth composite radiators, was 0.99 kg/sq.m, resulting in a specific power of 378 W/kg at the fully functional panel level. This is the first space solar array panel of any kind to simultaneously achieve over 300 W/sq.m and over 300 W/kg. In addition, the new SLA has been integrated into a relatively mature flexible blanket platform (ABLE's Aurora(R) array), with near-term array-level performance of 300 W/sq.m and 170 W/kg.