Laminar airfoil and the assembly and mounting of solar cell arrays on such airfoils

1. A method of fabricating a solar cell array for a substantially streamlined body comprising: providing an assembly fixture having a substantially smooth planar surface; and constructing a solar cell assembly on the smooth planar surface, wherein constructing the solar cell assembly comprises:

depositing a first silicone film directly on the planar surface of the fixture;

mounting an array of interconnected solar cells having a front light receiving side and a back side, with the back side disposed directly over the first silicone film; and

depositing a second silicone film comprising a first portion tapering in thickness and comprising a second portion directly over the front side of the solar cells so as to encapsulate the solar cells and provide a smooth surface allowing laminar flow there over, wherein the tapering in thickness of the second silicone film is no more than a gradation of two degrees.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising removing the solar cell assembly from the assembly fixture and attaching the solar cell assembly on a top surface of the streamlined body.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the streamlined body comprises an airfoil body, and at least a portion of the solar cell assembly is attached to a suction surface of the airfoil body.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the first portion is disposed adjacent to a leading edge of the airfoil body.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the first portion is adhered to the airfoil body prior to mounting the second portion on the airfoil.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion tapers with increasing width in a direction away from an edge of the first portion to a thickness of 0.020 inches.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the first portion of the second silicone film begins at an edge of the first portion at a thickness of between 0.003 and 0.005 inches and tapers in a direction away from the edge to a thickness between 0.020 and 0.040 inches.

8. The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising adhering a film of ETFE material of between 0.001 and 0.020 inches in thickness over the second silicone film.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of adhering a ETFE film utilizes a pressure sensitive adhesive film.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first portion increases in thickness in a direction from an edge of the second silicone film toward the array of interconnected solar cells.

11. A method of fabricating a solar cell array for a substantially streamlined body comprising: providing an assembly fixture having a substantially smooth planar surface; and constructing a solar cell assembly on the smooth planar surface, wherein constructing the solar cell assembly comprises:

depositing a first silicone film directly on the planar surface of the fixture;

mounting an array of interconnected solar cells having a front light receiving side and a back side, with the back side disposed directly over the first silicone film;

depositing a second silicone film comprising a first portion tapering in thickness and comprising a second portion directly over the front side of the solar cells so as to encapsulate the solar cells and provide a smooth surface allowing laminar flow there over; and

removing the solar cell assembly from the assembly fixture and attaching the solar cell assembly on a top surface of the streamlined body;

wherein the first portion is adhered to the top surface of the streamlined body prior to mounting the second portion on the streamlined body.

12. A method of fabricating a solar cell array for a substantially streamlined body comprising: providing an assembly fixture having a substantially smooth planar surface; and constructing a solar cell assembly on the smooth planar surface, wherein constructing the solar cell assembly comprises:

depositing a first silicone film directly on the planar surface of the fixture;

mounting an array of interconnected solar cells having a front light receiving side and a back side, with the back side disposed directly over the first silicone film; and

depositing a second silicone film comprising a first portion tapering in thickness and comprising a second portion directly over the front side of the solar cells so as to encapsulate the solar cells and provide a smooth surface allowing laminar flow there over;

wherein the first portion tapering in thickness is not deposited on the array of interconnected solar cells.