Conceptual Design Study of a Solar Concentrator/Support Structure: A three Dimensional Finite Element Model.

摘要

Under the space environment the paraboloid solar concentrators and support structures can deform and hence the focal point of the concentrators can diffuse. If this diffusion is large, energy will not concentrate on the thruster as desired. This paper addresses this aspect of pointing and accuracy analysis of solar concentrators, due to equivalent thrust loads. The previous studies were limited to the concentrator system being modeled with a simplified finite element model that includes only the support struts and torus. The torus model was made up of several equal length beams. The simple model did not contain the paraboloid reflector, and assumes the reflector does not affect the deformation of the torus. In the present study the inflated parabolic reflector is included in the model. The results demonstrate the non uniform displacements on the reflector that confirms the reflector's potato chipping effect.