Preservation of Perovskite Solar Cells in a Lunar Environment

Overview

NASA has planned The Artemis Mission, which will establish a moon base. Perovskite solar panels were chosen to generate the electricity needed to power the base. The team was tasked with creating a thermal management system to keep the panels within the optimal temperature range.

Objectives

• Determine required solar panel area to power Artemis Moon Base 
• Design a thermal management system to remove heat from solar panels. 

Approach

• Customer needs were determined by the sponsor. 
• Research ways that systems are cooled in a non-Earth environment. 
• Performed detailed heat transfer analyses on multiple forms of heat rejection. 
• Developed a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet capable of calculating panel temperatures based on input parameters such as pipe size or fluid flow rate. 
• Hybridized different heat rejection concepts to allow for minimal power loss and maximum heat rejection through the system. 

Outcomes

• Designed a workbook capable of outputting parameters needed for constructing a solar array that produces at least 1 megawatt of power. 
• A final design combining radiation and convection was chosen to cool the panels.  
• Future researchers will have flexibility to design an array to their needs.