System and method for detecting and locating an insulation flaw in a solar generator on a space vehicle

摘要

A system and method for detecting and locating an insulation flaw in a solar generator on a spacecraft. The solar generator comprises a plurality of flaps. Each flap bears at least one solar cell that is connected to an electrical distribution network and electrically insulated from the flap. Each flap is connected, by a first load and by a second load, to a first electrical line and a second electrical line, respectively. The ratio of the impedances of the first load and of the second load of a flap being denoted as an impedance ratio of the flap. The solar generator comprises at least two flaps exhibiting different respective impedance ratios. The system comprises a component for evaluating the currents flowing in the first and second electrical lines, and a detector for detecting and locating an insulation flaw in the solar generator based on the evaluations of the currents.

主权项

1. A system for detecting and locating an insulation flaw, comprising:
a solar generator on a spacecraft comprising a plurality of flaps, each flap bearing at least one solar cell and being connected to a first electrical line by a first load and to a second electrical line by a second load, said at least one solar cell is connected to an electrical distribution network and said at least one solar cell is electrically insulated from said each flap such that current flows in the first and second electrical lines in response to an insulation flaw; an evaluation component to evaluate currents flowing in the first electrical line and the second electrical line, respectively; a detector to detect the insulation flaw in the solar generator based on evaluations of the currents flowing in at least one of the first electrical line and the second electrical line; wherein a ratio of impedances of the first load and of the second load of a flap is denoted as an impedance ratio of the flap; wherein the solar generator comprises at least two flaps exhibiting different respective impedance ratios; and wherein the detector is configured to locate the detected insulation flaw by comparing the evaluations of the currents flowing respectively in the first and second electrical lines with the respective impedance ratios of said at least two flaps.