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Solar power satellite system sizing tradeoffsTechnical and economic tradeoffs of smaller solar power satellite systems configured with larger antennas, reduced output power, and smaller rectennas, are considered. The differential costs in electricity for seven antenna/rectenna configurations operating at 2.45 GHz and five satellite systems operating at 5.8 GHz are calculated. Two 2.45 GHz configurations dependent upon the ionospheric power density limit are chosen as examples. If the ionospheric limit could be increased to 54 mW sq/cm from the present 23 mW sq/cm level, a 1.53 km antenna satellite operating at 2.45 GHz would provide 5.05 GW of output power from a 6.8 km diameter rectenna. This system gives a 54 percent reduction in rectenna area relative to the reference solar power satellite system at a modest 17 percent increase in electricity costs. At 5.8 GHz, an 0.75 km antenna providing 2.72 GW of power from a 5.8 km diameter rectenna is selected for analysis. This configuration would have a 67 percent reduction in rectenna area at a 36 percent increase in electricity costs. Ionospheric, atmospheric, and thermal limitations are discussed. Antenna patterns for three configurations to show the relative main beam and sidelobe characteristics are included.
Document ID
19810009968
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Technical Publication (TP)
Authors
Arndt, G. D. (NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Monford, L. G. (NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
September 4, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1981
Subject Category
Energy Production And Conversion
Report/Patent Number
S-505
NASA-TP-1804
Accession Number
81N18493
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 986-15-89-00-72
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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