Modeling the Effects of Solar Cell Distribution on Optical Cross Section for Solar Panel Simulation

Abstract : The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Time-domain Analysis Simulation for Advanced Tracking (TASAT) was used to explore the variation of Optical Cross Section (OCS) with glint angle for a solar panel with different solar cell distribution statistics. Simulations were conducted using a 3D model of a solar panel with various solar cell tip and tilt distribution statistics. Modeling a solar panel as a single sheet of solar cell material is not appropriate for OCS glint studies. However, modeling each individual solar cell on the panel, the tips and tilts of which come from a distribution of specified statistics (distribution type, mean, and standard deviation), accurately captures the solar panel OCS with glint angle. The objective of the simulations was to vary the glint measurement angle about the maximum glint position of the solar panel and observe the variations in OCS with angle for a bi-static illumination condition. OCS was calculated relative to the simulated scattering of a Spectralon material in the glint orientation. Results show the importance of solar cell distribution statistics in modeling the OCS observed for a solar panel.