Structural design and performance analysis of large inflatable solar membrane reflector

With the growing global energy demand and the pursuit of sustainable energy, solar energy has received widespread attention as a clean and renewable energy source. A structural design of an inflatable, large-scale solar concentrating reflector based on in-orbit assembly is proposed in this paper. The axisymmetric inflated reflector surface is reverse-designed through membrane mechanics, and the internal pressures to maintain the reflector surface morphology at different orbital positions and the tiny deformation produced by the reflecting surface under the action of the uniform pressure are determined. A rigidizable support structure is prepared by using a thermosetting aramid fabric-reinforced composite. The support structure used to the parabolic reflecting surface is designed, and the diameter and spacing distance of the resistance wire of the heating layer are determined by electrothermal simulation; the combination of solar radiation and electric heating is used to rigidize the reflector in orbit, and the corresponding electric heating time at different orbital positions is analyzed by in-orbit simulation. The heating voltage, folding radius and folding method of the rigidizable support structure are determined through the experimental design, and the folding and unfolding experiments are carried out by using the secondary heating and inflatable pressure and the final shape recovery rate of the support tube is 100%, which verifies the feasibility of its folding and deployment. • A structural design of large-scale arrayed solar membrane reflectors based on inflation and rigidity is proposed. • Inverse design of parabolic reflectors based on axisymmetric membrane under internal pressure is calculated. • A thermal rigidizable scheme in orbit and its experimental verification by folding and deployment are presented.