| Paraboloidal Thin Film Inflatable Concentrators and Their Use for Power Applications |
17 JUN 1999 |
10 pages |
| Authors:
Kristi K. Laug; Michael R. Holmes; AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB EDWARDS AFB CA PROPULSION DIRECTORATE WEST
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 | This paper deals with a proposal to use thin film inflatable concentrators, currently used for propulsion, in other applications, such as power. Technology for precision paraboloidal thin film concentrators is becoming available for use as a byproduct of propulsion technology. The idea is to introduce the possibility of using this formerly strictly propulsion hardware to power photovoltaic (PV) cells. Several intensity profiles will be generated from an optical model and ... |
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| Solar Thermal Propulsion Experiments Design |
1996 |
13 pages |
| Authors:
Kristi K. Laug; PHILLIPS LAB EDWARDS AFB CA
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| Satellites that are currently under powered or have low photovoltaic (PV) efficiency, may be rejuvenated by dosing them with laser power beamed from earth. Also, current strictly solar thermal propulsion schemes may be able to use laser power as a replacement energy source when they are eclipsed. Several questions must be answered before a multiple use of laser power may be designated. The questions are outlined in the background section ... |
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| Volumetric Absorber as Solar Engine Utilizing Laser Thermal Power for Energy Input |
DEC 95 |
12 pages |
| Authors:
Kristi K. Laug; John D. Holtzclaw; SPARTA INC LANCASTER CA
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| Money is currently earmarked by Congress for laser augmented power for satellites. This means that satellites that are currently underpowered or have low PY efficiency may be rejuvenated by dosing them with laser power beamed from earth. In addition, Solar Thermal Propulsion schemes may be able to use laser power as an energy source in place of the sun when the sun's energy cannot be collected or is insufficient. Such ... |
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| Evaluation of Hafnium-Carbide Wafers for Use in a Solar Calorimeter |
DEC 95 |
8 pages |
| Authors:
Kristi K. Laug; Alan J. Baxter; FRAUNHOFER-INST FUER ATMOSPHAERISCHE UMWELTFORSCHUNG GARMISCH- PARTENKIRCHEN (GERMANY F R)
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| The Solar Propulsion Group (SPG) at Phillips Laboratory will determine the efficiency of transferring heat from sunlight to a gas using carbon wafers. There will be a series of tests using a calorimeter containing porous carbon and hafnium carbide coated carbon wafers that will absorb the sunlight and transfer the heat to the gas passing through them. We had half the wafers coated with hafnium carbide to prevent carbon loss ... |
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| Dependence of Solar-Thermal Rocket Performance on Concentrator Performance |
1995 |
14 pages |
| Authors:
Michael R. Holmes; Kristi K. Laug; PHILLIPS LAB EDWARDS AFB CA
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| The Phillips Laboratory (OLAC) at Edwards Air Force Base is actively working to forward research and development in Solar-Thermal Propulsion. The concentrator support structure trade studies reviewed were the result of PRDA program Research and Development Announcement) contracts, for example. Recent funding is through SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research), however, as money for larger contracts becomes rare. Topics such as space concentrator development, thruster development, pointing and accuracy, etc. are ... |
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| Solar Bi-Modal System Concept: Mission Applications, a Preliminary Assessment |
1992 |
6 pages |
| Authors:
Kristi K. Laug; Michael R. Holmes; Kurt O. Westerman; AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH PROPULSION DIRECTORATE
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| The current fleet of medium/heavy expendable launch vehicles (ELVs) and upper stages are expensive, inflexible, and non-responsive to the needs of the satellite designer/builder. These transportation systems confine satellite designers to a very narrow operational envelope. If a satellite exceeds its mass budget by even a few percent, mission planners must choose between eliminating instrumentation (reducing the spacecraft's capabilities) or launching on a larger/more expensive ELV. Many people have suggested ... |
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