Space PV Concentrators for Outer Planet and Near-Sun Missions, Using Ultra-Light Fresnel Lenses Made with Vanishing Tools

Identification and Significance of the InnovationUnder recent NASA SBIR, STTR, and other programs, our team has developed both line-focus and point-focus Fresnel lens PV concentrators with unprecedented performance and cost metrics. This new Phase I proposal addresses a remaining mass-production issue for the ultra-light lenses used in both line-focus and point-focus embodiments of the space PV concentrator technology. After casting the silicone lens, removing the lens tool is difficult, time-consuming, and often damaging to the lens. A vanishing lens tool would completely solve this problem, making high-quality, mass-producible, low-cost, ultra-light Fresnel lenses available for future space PV concentrators. These concentrators offer unrivaled benefits for outer planet and near-sun missions, especially in rad-hardness, LILT-tolerance, and HIHT-tolerance.Technical Objectives, Work Plan, and DeliverablesTechnical Objectives: To (1) Select Candidate Vanishing Lens Tool Materials, (2) Procure Electroform Replicas of 25X Point-Focus Lens Pattern, (3) Produce Vanishing Lens Prototype Tools, (4) Produce and Inspect Lenses (Glass Superstrate and Mesh), (5) Outdoor-Test Best Lenses for Optical Efficiency, (6) Select Best Vanishing Lens Tool Material, (7) Produce 10 Prototype Vanishing Lens Tools, (8) Produce and Outdoor-Test 10 Lenses, (9) Explore Mass Production of Vanishing Lens Tools from Selected Material with Vendors, (10) Prepare Technology Development Roadmap for Phase II and Beyond, (11) Provide All Required Reports, Reviews, and Deliverables.Work Plan: Over a 6-month performance period, we will perform 11 tasks linked directly to the 11 objectives.Deliverables: 3 Program Reviews, 2 Program Reports, 10 Lenses (5 Glass Superstrate + 5 Embedded Mesh), and Phase II Proposal