Recently, the "Expandable Flexible Solar Cell System Based on Shape Memory Polymer Intelligent Composite Material Structure" developed by the research group of Professor Leng Jinsong of Harbin Institute of Technology has achieved the first flexible solar cell structure based on shape memory polymer composite materials Controlled unfolding in orbit.
Solar cells, as one of the key components of aerospace vehicles, usually need to go through four steps of "ground manufacturing-folding and folding-launching into space-space expansion" before they can achieve on-orbit work. In the future, the next generation of large or ultra-large space structures will place extremely high requirements on energy systems. As one of the new trends in the development of solar cells, flexible solar cells have the advantages of light weight, good flexibility, and high storage ratio, but they are used in aerospace applications. There are also difficulties in collapsing and locking, driving deployment, and low rigidity after deployment.
Controllable deployment of flexible solar cell system based on shape memory polymer composite structure
On December 27, 2019, the Practice 20 satellite, developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, successfully flew with the Long March V rocket in Wenchang, Hainan. The "expandable flexible solar cell system based on the shape memory polymer intelligent composite material structure" mounted this time mainly includes the shape memory composite material lock release mechanism developed by Harbin Institute of Technology, the shape memory polymer composite material expandable beam and Shanghai Space Power The flexible solar thin-film battery developed by the institute. Based on the mechanical theory of composite materials and the refined structure design, the shape memory polymer composite material structure can realize the functions of locking, releasing and unfolding of flexible solar cells, and high stiffness and carrying capacity after unfolding. During the satellite launch, the shape memory composite material locking and releasing mechanism can provide and achieve high rigidity locking; after entering the orbit, the on-orbit stable and impact-free unlocking is completed; during the deployment process, the shape memory polymer composite material can be deployed The controlled stretching of the beam drives the flexible solar thin-film battery to unfold. After unfolding, the stiffness of the shape memory polymer composite beam structure returns to a level comparable to that of conventional composite materials. Features. The deployable flexible solar cell system mounted this time realizes the functions of locking, releasing and unfolding through the shape memory polymer composite structure. It does not use traditional pyrotechnic separation devices, hinges and motor drives. The structure is simple. The unlocking and deployment process has almost no impact, the deployment time and process are controllable, and the rigidity of the structure after deployment is high.
In the future, related technologies are also expected to be used in deep space exploration, space stations, lunar exploration projects, satellites, and other spacecraft platforms with space expandable structures, locking release mechanisms, and flexible solar cell systems. , Intelligent manufacturing, robotics and biomedicine have broad application prospects.