Angle or inclination of space stations for solar panels

[Vist]

Hi everybody =)

Just wondering at what angle or inclination a space station should be in order to have efficient EC generating solar panels in the following layout/configuration:

A)

Thanks in advance

Edited November 6, 2015 by Vist

[el_coyoto]

Hi everybody =)

Just wondering at what angle or inclination a space station should be in order to have efficient EC generating solar panels in the following layout/configuration:

Thanks in advance

It's a real life problem that even NASA is facing, and the way they are trying to solve it might indicate that it's not that easy to optimize solar panels placement and/or orientation (although they have other problems, like sun/shadow cycles creating stress on the structure).

So, while it might not be a satisfactory answer, I usually stick as many panels as I can without creating a risk of collision during approach and docking.

I would go for solution B because :

1. it has more panels (weak argument I know )
   
2. you can dock stuff at one end without blocking both panels like in solution A : B will leave at least two other panels in sunlight. Again, I'm not sure there's a definitive answer as it all depends on where and what you dock, your station orientation, etc.
   
3. it looks better, which is a totally objective and formal argument...
   

Again, sorry for the poor answer, but it really is a tough problem that seems to be mostly approached via numeric simulations, which is basically glorified trial and error...

[BoilingOil]

<snip> ... numeric simulations ... <snip> ... glorified trial and error...

+1 for that one!!!

[A_name]

The main thing I take into account is that a craft in orbit (unless given control inputs) will sit still. This means that the parts of your craft that are pointing prograde, retrograde, radial or anti-radial, the craft wont hold those positions as it continues to orbit because the positions are relative to the planet and its curvature, not the craft itself. But this also means that in an equatorial orbit, the part of your craft that is pointing normal and anti-normal will continue to point that way as it orbits (which is why it is recommended that you park a craft to be docked with later with its docking port facing normal, so that it will still be pointing that way when you come back and wont be rotating relative to its orbit as you try to dock. I really hope this is making sense. Anyway, my advice is to position your panels and orient your station such that the narrow edge of the panels points normal. That way, the surface of the panels (thanks to the sun tracking function) will always be exposed to the sun (except during the night of course).

Edit:

Like this

Edited November 4, 2015 by A_name

[davidpsummers]

The crafts orientation to the sun shouldn't change as it goes around Kerbin. It will change as the craft (and the planet) go around the sun. So i you want to keep reorienting you would need to do it a few times a year.

Things that are orientate north/south with respect to the sun (and, as turns out, Kerbin :-) will stay orientate north/south. So (as per the illustration by "A_name", above) if you panel points north or south, and it is one of the ones that will rotate about its axis, it will always be in a good position. Panels in other directions will sometimes be behind the ship or pointing their axis directly at the sun. Which is why you often have four radially, so that at least two are always good.

[Vist]

It's a real life problem that even NASA is facing, and the way they are trying to solve it might indicate that it's not that easy to optimize solar panels placement and/or orientation (although they have other problems, like sun/shadow cycles creating stress on the structure).

So, while it might not be a satisfactory answer, I usually stick as many panels as I can without creating a risk of collision during approach and docking.

I would go for solution B because :

1. it has more panels (weak argument I know )
   
2. you can dock stuff at one end without blocking both panels like in solution A : B will leave at least two other panels in sunlight. Again, I'm not sure there's a definitive answer as it all depends on where and what you dock, your station orientation, etc.
   
3. it looks better, which is a totally objective and formal argument...
   

Again, sorry for the poor answer, but it really is a tough problem that seems to be mostly approached via numeric simulations, which is basically glorified trial and error...

The main thing I take into account is that a craft in orbit (unless given control inputs) will sit still. This means that the parts of your craft that are pointing prograde, retrograde, radial or anti-radial, the craft wont hold those positions as it continues to orbit because the positions are relative to the planet and its curvature, not the craft itself. But this also means that in an equatorial orbit, the part of your craft that is pointing normal and anti-normal will continue to point that way as it orbits (which is why it is recommended that you park a craft to be docked with later with its docking port facing normal, so that it will still be pointing that way when you come back and wont be rotating relative to its orbit as you try to dock. I really hope this is making sense. Anyway, my advice is to position your panels and orient your station such that the narrow edge of the panels points normal. That way, the surface of the panels (thanks to the sun tracking function) will always be exposed to the sun (except during the night of course).

Edit:

Like this http://i.imgur.com/Wpp2LoN.jpg

Thanks for your inputs guys =) been trying out several general solar panel layouts on different space station configurations. I guess getting most of the panels to store enough EC which will be used by the station in full operation during the night time is the main goal :"> which boils down to the different parts the station has (parts from station science and the like).

Just thought of using infernal robotics to continually rotate a section of the station that has solar panels on them (like an electric fan =P ).

Thanks again. =)

- - - Updated - - -

The crafts orientation to the sun shouldn't change as it goes around Kerbin. It will change as the craft (and the planet) go around the sun. So i you want to keep reorienting you would need to do it a few times a year.

Things that are orientate north/south with respect to the sun (and, as turns out, Kerbin :-) will stay orientate north/south. So (as per the illustration by "A_name", above) if you panel points north or south, and it is one of the ones that will rotate about its axis, it will always be in a good position. Panels in other directions will sometimes be behind the ship or pointing their axis directly at the sun. Which is why you often have four radially, so that at least two are always good.

Hi davidpsummers,

Yeah, found most of the images/videos I've seen made by KSPers have place their stations like that. Maybe using radially mounted solar panels from.... Near Future (I forgot which mod had it ="> ) and place them on the station away from docking ports. At least these won't be sticking out, but then again, a bunch of these may increase total parts count. =">

Regards and thanks. =)