Efficiency Enhancement of Solar Cells of a Sun Pointing Satellite with Design Optimization of Heat Pipes Configuration Using Genetic Algorithm

Reducing satellite solar panels temperature, to increase their electrical efficiency is of great importance. In this study, a novel methodology for optimal configuration design of heat pipes in a sun-pointing satellite utilizing the genetic algorithm is presented. The purpose of optimization is the thermal adjustment and design improvement of the solar panels for the satellite that is supposed to orbit in the Low Earth Orbit. Thermal simulations of satellite and solar panels are performed using SINDA/FLUINT and Thermal Desktop software. The computations are validated using experimental measurements of the satellite thermal model in a vacuum chamber and it was shown that the numerical analysis can produce reliable results. Then, applying the constraints of the problem, an optimization algorithm is introduced. This algorithm employs the thermal simulation software for solving the governing equations of the problem and then reports the results. The optimization was performed for the satellite hottest case (beta:90) and then, conducting an optimization procedure, the optimal configuration of heat pipes is achieved. In the results section, three different configurations, namely no heat pipes, the initial design for configuration of heat pipes and the optimal configuration of heat pipes, are investigated and compared. It was found that the optimal configuration using the genetic algorithm can reduce the temperature of solar arrays by up to 19°C relative to that in which no heat pipe was used. It was observed that an efficiency ratio enhancement is 10.4% for the solar panels of optimum configuration. The optimization could significantly reduce the temperature of the satellite internal equipment