Geostationary earth satellite solar panels - with cells inclined to minimise seasonal light level variation

摘要

Orientation to maximise the efficiency of solar panels, with the minimum number of cells, mounted on a geostationary Earth satellite throughout the varying light levels experienced over a year. The cells are mounted on panels whose plan is parallel to a North - South axis and inclined towards it at an angle of between 2 deg. and 6 deg. The inclination provides a smoothing out effect on the received light characteristic. The cell inclination is obtained either by setting them at an angle to their mounting surface where this has a North -South axis or by setting the surface itself at the required angle to this axis. Angled support surfaces may have the form of a cone or pyramid with an apex angle (s) twice that of the required inclination (i).