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>Solar panel efficiency drops by about 0.5 percent per degree Celsius over 25C, which is a real issue when the moons daytime temperature hits 110C (230f) Aka pa
by geoduck14 5y ago
>Solar panel efficiency drops by about 0.5 percent per degree Celsius over 25C, which is a real issue when the moons daytime temperature hits 110C (230f) Aka past the boiling point of water.
Don't they already handle these extremes in satellite solar panels?
- Retric 5y agoThe back of solar panels are to the void of space. On the moon it’s to the moon’s surface which might initially be cold but would warm over time.
- jjk166 5y agoJust align your radiators vertically so their flat surfaces point towards the horizon (ie the void of space). Actually you'd want to slightly angle them such that they are still pointing towards empty space but not at the next radiator over, but still you get the idea.
- Retric 5y agoThere are many possible solutions but they all add weight, complexity, and or inefficiency. For example further from the equator the lower the daytime temperature, but also directly translates into a lower subsurface temperature which has it’s own problems for a lunar colony.
- themaninthedark 5y agoIt depends on how they handle them, oversize the solar panes to ensure that you never drop below your minimum operation current requirements? That is a very good question, because larger panels would mean more mass and cost more. So careful balancing of the factors? or a different panel formula?