Thermal model and radiator design for the SPS-ALPHA concept

Space Based Solar Power (SBSP) is gaining more attention in the recent years. The increase of power demand and the reduction of space launch cost can make Space Based Solar power a potential solution. Several concepts can be technically feasible and commercially viable, but more research and development are required. Among the many technical challenges that Space Based Solar Power faces is using passive techniques to reject gigawatt scale of power. This paper explains and discusses a thermal model that predict the temperature profile for a particular Space Based Solar Power concept called the SPS-ALPHA (Solar Power Satellite - by the means of Arbitrarily Large PHased Array). In this concept, concentrated solar power is utilized while passive techniques for thermal management is a requirement. The paper also explains the design of a radiator implemented by the thermal model. The temperature solution before implementing the radiator and after will be demonstrated. The emphasis of this paper is on the methodology of the thermal model, radiator design and the implementation of the radiator design on the thermal model.