Packaging System for Extendable Solar Photovoltaic or Thermoelectric Arrays

A packaging system usable for both oriented photovoltaic and flat plate thermoelectric solar arrays is presented which permits six circular disks to open out in an aerospace environment. For a base plate and disk radius of 50 cm, the system enables a maximum power of 435 watts to be delivered to a matched load by an oriented photovoltaic array of six disks plus base plate or 373 watts for 6 disks alone. The latter figure is to be compared with 150 watts (6 disks) for the oriented thermoelectric array. Several comparisons of the two systems in regard to weight, cost, and radiation resistance are discussed. Under certain circumstances, the thermoelectric array has potential cost and weight advantages on a per-watt basis in addition to radiation damage resistance advantages.