Hybrid collectors using thin-film technology
- Univ. de Neuchatel (Switzerland). Inst. de Microtechnique
- E. Schweizer AG, Hedingen (Switzerland)
Amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) based solar cells are highly interesting in the context of hybrid (i.e., photovoltaic/thermal) solar energy conversion. First, their large area capability and the variety of possible substrate materials permit one to apply a-Si:H PV modules directly on the surface of conventional heat collectors at low cost. Further, the low temperature coefficient of a-Si:H cells (0.1%/K) allows operation of a-Si:H solar modules at temperatures as high as 100 C without substantial power loss. The authors focus on the thermal performance of such hybrid collectors based on a-Si:H cells, with emphasis on a ZnO coat on top of the solar cell. ZnO can be tuned to absorb the infrared part of the sunlight and, at the same time, its emission coefficient for heat-radiation is nearly as low as that of optimized selective surfaces used in thermal collectors. The authors propose a collector structure with a high potential for the thermal conversion efficiency while maintaining a high electrical conversion efficiency.
- OSTI ID:
- 304481
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970953-; TRN: IM9905%%173
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 26. IEEE photovoltaic specialists conference, Anaheim, CA (United States), 29 Sep - 3 Oct 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997; Related Information: Is Part Of Conference record of the twenty sixth IEEE photovoltaic specialists conference -- 1997; PB: 1477 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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