ANALYSIS OF SOLAR CELL POWER GENERATION PERFORMANCE ON AIRFOIL SURFACE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

Peng Lei; Jia Zixi; Sun Guorui; Zhong Hao; Song Jianqing; Liu Wenping

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2022-0569

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Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2023, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (8) : 275-281. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2022-0569

ANALYSIS OF SOLAR CELL POWER GENERATION PERFORMANCE ON AIRFOIL SURFACE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

Peng Lei, Jia Zixi, Sun Guorui, Zhong Hao, Song Jianqing, Liu Wenping

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Abstract

To solve the efficient power utilization problem of solar cells on near space unmanned aerial vehicles, a power generation model of solar cell on an airfoil surface of unmanned aerial vehicle is proposed and the numerical analysis is performed. The results show that the date, flight direction, and position on the airfoil surface affect the cell's current, voltage, power, efficiency, and daily power generation. The maximum current difference is 0.068 A and the maximum voltage difference is 2.28 V for solar cells at different positions at the same time, affected by the solar position and the variation of direct incidence conditions. Flight direction remarkably influences the daily power generation of solar cells near leading and trailing edges except for Summer Solstice. Reduction of total irradiance on cells induced by curved surface causes negligible losses of current and power because the ratios of chord length to arc length of single solar cells are close to unity. Cell partition models have a negligible effect on daily power generation; thus, a single solar cell can be analyzed as a whole. The results can be used as a reference for solar cell layout and interconnection design of unmanned aerial vehicles.

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solar energy / unmanned aerial vehicles / solar cells / numerical analysis / airfoils

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Peng Lei, Jia Zixi, Sun Guorui, Zhong Hao, Song Jianqing, Liu Wenping. ANALYSIS OF SOLAR CELL POWER GENERATION PERFORMANCE ON AIRFOIL SURFACE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2023, 44(8): 275-281 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2022-0569

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