Charging Behavior of Polyimide/Adhesive Components During Eclipse Events in Geostationary Environment

摘要

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study carried out in the SIRENE irradiation test facility,ninstalled at ONERA (Toulouse, France), on stacked polyimide/adhesive structures used on solar panels. This studynaims at following the evolution of the charging potential built up at the surface of these structures during an eclipsenevent in geostationary orbit.The samples have therefore been irradiatedwith a distributed electron spectrum(from0nto 400 keV). During a first stage, the samples are submitted to light radiation at 293 K. In a second stage (eclipsenphase), the electron irradiation is performed in darkness and with a decreasing temperature (down to 113 K). In anfinal stage (eclipse exit), the samples are submitted to light radiation with an increasing temperature (up to 293 K).nWe have been able to demonstrate that these solar structures are highly sensitive to temperature and light radiationnsince the volume conductivity of polyimide films and epoxy adhesives is submitted to noticeable variation with thesenoperative parameters. The major conclusion is that this kind of polyimide/adhesive structure potentially used onnsolar panels may have to cope with elevated charging potential, which can be highly hazardous especially at theneclipse exit when the solar panel regains its power.