System and method for detecting and locating an insulation flaw in a solar generator on a space vehicle

Abstract

A system and method for detecting and locating an insulation flaw in a solar generator on a spacecraft. The solar generator comprises a plurality of flaps. Each flap bears at least one solar cell that is connected to an electrical distribution network and electrically insulated from the flap. Each flap is connected, by a first load and by a second load, to a first electrical line and a second electrical line, respectively. The ratio of the impedances of the first load and of the second load of a flap being denoted as an impedance ratio of the flap. The solar generator comprises at least two flaps exhibiting different respective impedance ratios. The system comprises a component for evaluating the currents flowing in the first and second electrical lines, and a detector for detecting and locating an insulation flaw in the solar generator based on the evaluations of the currents.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.