Concentration performance analysis of deployable umbrella-shaped keel concentrator

In order to improve the concentration efficiency and eliminate the optical aberration, the umbrella-shaped keel structure has been introduced into the deployable concentrator. The concentration performance of deployable solar paraboloid concentrator with concentration power of 100 kW working in the space environment has been investigated with the software ANSYS and ZEMAX. Under the influence of film tension and solar wind, the maximum stress of umbrella fabric is 1.66 MPa, which is much smaller than the threshold intensity of Kevlar and Ti-6Al-4V keel materials. The maximum deformation of umbrella fabric is 0.941 mm, the radius of the spot size is 6.37 cm, and the geometric concentration ratio can achieve 5 917, only 1.25% lower than the ratio of the standard parabolic concentrator. The results reveal that the influence of film tension and solar wind on the working shape of concentrator can be offset to a large extent by the introduction of the umbrella-shaped keel structure, which could eliminate wrinkles and enhance the deployability and stability of umbrella-shaped keel concentrator. The selected umbrella-shaped keel structure and Kevlar materials are proved to be appropriate.