Effect pattern of multiple factors on output performance of solar array for stratospheric airships

Solar array is a key subsystem for stratospheric airships to achieve long-endurance station-keeping. A curved surface paving model for solar arrays was established, and a high-precision calculation method for the output performance of solar arrays was proposed. The effect patterns of multiple factors, including latitude, date, and heading, on the output performance of solar arrays were simulated and analyzed. Simulation results show that: in the summer of the northern hemisphere with favorable irradiation, the effect of latitude on the output performance of solar arrays is relatively small, while the effect is much greater in autumn and winter. Date has an important effect on the peak output power and total daily output power of solar arrays, especially in regions at middle and high latitudes. In low-latitude regions, the heading has little effect on the peak output power of the solar array, but a certain effect on the total daily output power of the solar array, while in high-latitude regions, the heading’s effect varies with the date, being smaller in the summer and larger in the winter. The findings can provide references for renewable energy system design and the overall design of stratospheric airships.