Line 33: | Line 33: | ||
==Low concentration photovoltaics (LCPV)== | ==Low concentration photovoltaics (LCPV)== | ||
Low concentration PV systems can be illuminated with intensities less than 20 suns <ref>S. Kurtz, “[http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy13osti/43208.pdf Opportunities and challenges for development of a mature concentrating photovoltaic power industry],” Technical Report, NREL/TP-520- 43208, 2009</ref> which can be varied up to 100 suns. LCPV systems eliminate the need of complex cooling systems and are often facilitated with booster reflectors. LCPV systems doesn't require active tracking mechanisms due to wide acceptance angles <ref>Andrews, Rob W.; Pollard, Andrew; Pearce, Joshua M., "[http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2013.6744136 Photovoltaic system performance enhancement with non-tracking planar concentrators: Experimental results and BDRF based modelling]," Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2013 IEEE 39th, pp.0229,0234, 16–21 June 2013. doi: 10.1109/PVSC.2013.6744136</ref>. These can sufficed with single-axis tracking system yet maintaining 35-40% increased power output. The reflected radiation incident on these modules depends on the clearness of the index of the location <ref>A. Luque, V. Andreev "Concentrator Photovoltaics", (first ed.), Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York (2007) (Chapter: 1 and 6)</ref> <ref> M. Šúri, T.A. Huld, E.D. Dunlop, H.A. Ossenbrink | Low concentration PV systems can be illuminated with intensities less than 20 suns <ref>S. Kurtz, “[http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy13osti/43208.pdf Opportunities and challenges for development of a mature concentrating photovoltaic power industry],” Technical Report, NREL/TP-520- 43208, 2009</ref> which can be varied up to 100 suns. LCPV systems eliminate the need of complex cooling systems and are often facilitated with booster reflectors. LCPV systems doesn't require active tracking mechanisms due to wide acceptance angles <ref>Andrews, Rob W.; Pollard, Andrew; Pearce, Joshua M., "[http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2013.6744136 Photovoltaic system performance enhancement with non-tracking planar concentrators: Experimental results and BDRF based modelling]," Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2013 IEEE 39th, pp.0229,0234, 16–21 June 2013. doi: 10.1109/PVSC.2013.6744136</ref>. These can sufficed with single-axis tracking system yet maintaining 35-40% increased power output. The reflected radiation incident on these modules depends on the clearness of the index of the location <ref>A. Luque, V. Andreev "Concentrator Photovoltaics", (first ed.), Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York (2007) (Chapter: 1 and 6)</ref> <ref> M. Šúri, T. A. Huld, E. D. Dunlop, and H. A. Ossenbrink,[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X07000229 “Potential of solar electricity generation in the European Union member states and candidate countries,”] Solar Energy, vol. 81, no. 10, pp. 1295–1305, Oct. 2007. doi: 10.1016/j.solener.2006.12.007</ref> and thus they are more effective when installed where direct radiation is a significant percentage of the global radiation South Europe, Northern Africa, Southern states of the USA, etc.). | ||
'''''Measuring Intensity in Suns:''''' Intensity of sunlight illuminating on PV cells are measured as 'Suns'. 'One Sun' is amount of energy drawn to an object openly exposed out on a cloudless day which is approximately 100 watts per square foot. | '''''Measuring Intensity in Suns:''''' Intensity of sunlight illuminating on PV cells are measured as 'Suns'. 'One Sun' is amount of energy drawn to an object openly exposed out on a cloudless day which is approximately 100 watts per square foot. | ||
'''Link directly to [[Low level concentration for PV applications literature review]]''' | '''Link directly to [[Low level concentration for PV applications literature review]]''' | ||
==Concept of Reflectors-Concentrators== | ==Concept of Reflectors-Concentrators== | ||
The main features of reflectors are high reflectance, low scattering and low degradation i.e., loss of reflectance over time. | The main features of reflectors are high reflectance, low scattering and low degradation i.e., loss of reflectance over time. |
Revision as of 02:25, 9 February 2016
Note to Readers
Please leave any comments on the Discussion page (see tab above) including additional resources/papers/links etc. Papers can be added to relevant sections if done in chronological order with all citation information and short synopsis or abstract. Thank You.
Search List
Background
What are Concentrator photovoltaics (CPV)??
Wikipedia : Concentrator photovoltaic systems employ curved reflectors such as lenses and mirrors to focus incoming sun rays onto the solar cells to harvest solar energy with more efficiency measured as watt-peak Wp. They are often equipped with single or dual-axis solar trackers and cooling systems that promote dual-way power generation. Based on the intensities measured in number of suns, CPV systems are classified as Low concentration PV, High concentration PV, Medium concentration PV and Luminescent solar concentrators.
This idea of concentrating sun's rays date back to 212 B.C.The famous Greek inventor Archimedes used mirrors, later called as burning mirrors, to set enemy ships at blaze. Concentrators/reflectors use principles of optics (focal point) to concentrate sunlight onto Solar cells.
Low concentration photovoltaics (LCPV)
Low concentration PV systems can be illuminated with intensities less than 20 suns [1] which can be varied up to 100 suns. LCPV systems eliminate the need of complex cooling systems and are often facilitated with booster reflectors. LCPV systems doesn't require active tracking mechanisms due to wide acceptance angles [2]. These can sufficed with single-axis tracking system yet maintaining 35-40% increased power output. The reflected radiation incident on these modules depends on the clearness of the index of the location [3] [4] and thus they are more effective when installed where direct radiation is a significant percentage of the global radiation South Europe, Northern Africa, Southern states of the USA, etc.).
Measuring Intensity in Suns: Intensity of sunlight illuminating on PV cells are measured as 'Suns'. 'One Sun' is amount of energy drawn to an object openly exposed out on a cloudless day which is approximately 100 watts per square foot.
Link directly to Low level concentration for PV applications literature review
Concept of Reflectors-Concentrators
The main features of reflectors are high reflectance, low scattering and low degradation i.e., loss of reflectance over time.
Link directly to Understanding_solar_concentrators
A. Rabl, “Comparison of solar concentrators,” Solar Energy, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 93–111, 1976.doi: 10.1016/0038-092X(76)90043-8[1]
- Analyses the geometric concentration ratio of different types of concentrators.
- Concludes that there is a nonuniformity of the flux density distribution on the absorber.
S. Hess,“Stationary booster reflectors for solar thermal process heat generation,” SASEC, 2015
V-trough solar concentrators
Compound Parabolic Concentrators (CPC)
The Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) is a nonimaging optical-design concept that allows maximum concentration of incident energy onto a receiver. This design incorporates a trough-like reflecting wall by which radiation is concentrated to the maximum allowed by physical principles of optics.
- A solar concentrator system consisting of a CPC, a secondary reflection plane mirror, and a parabolic trough concentrator
- Uses a ray-tracing method to design and optimize three stationary dielectric asymmetric compound parabolic concentrators (DiACPCs) with acceptance half-angles of (0°/55°), (0°/66°) and (0°/77°), respectively to optimize in order to optimize the designs of concentrator applications in northern latitudes (>55 °N)
- Concludes that Energy flux distribution at the receiver for diffuse radiation is found to be homogeneous
H. Ali and P. Gandhidasan, “Performance Evaluation of Photovoltaic String with Compound Parabolic Concentrator,” Journal of Clean Energy Technologies, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 170–175, 2015. doi: 10.7763/JOCET.2015.V3.190[www.jocet.org/papers/190-R032.pdf]
Booster reflectors
Advantage of corrugated reflectors
Tracking Systems
Solar tracking systems are actuator devices employed to concentrate reflectors towards the Sun's direction. Concentrators should be able to direct the sunlight precisely onto solar cells with the aid of these devices. Single axis systems can turn the panels around the centre axis while Dual axis tracking is used to position a mirror and concentrate incoming radiation along a fixed axis towards a stationary receiver.
Kirigami approach
Kirigami and Technology
How does a Kirigami approach helps solar photovolatics?
Modelling
Link directly to Low level concentration for PV applications literature review
BDRV Based Modelling
Citations
- ↑ S. Kurtz, “Opportunities and challenges for development of a mature concentrating photovoltaic power industry,” Technical Report, NREL/TP-520- 43208, 2009
- ↑ Andrews, Rob W.; Pollard, Andrew; Pearce, Joshua M., "Photovoltaic system performance enhancement with non-tracking planar concentrators: Experimental results and BDRF based modelling," Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2013 IEEE 39th, pp.0229,0234, 16–21 June 2013. doi: 10.1109/PVSC.2013.6744136
- ↑ A. Luque, V. Andreev "Concentrator Photovoltaics", (first ed.), Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York (2007) (Chapter: 1 and 6)
- ↑ M. Šúri, T. A. Huld, E. D. Dunlop, and H. A. Ossenbrink,“Potential of solar electricity generation in the European Union member states and candidate countries,” Solar Energy, vol. 81, no. 10, pp. 1295–1305, Oct. 2007. doi: 10.1016/j.solener.2006.12.007