Micro-optics for high-efficiency optical performance and simplified tracking for concentrated photovoltaics (CPV).
Conference
·
OSTI ID:1044953
Micro-optical 5mm lenses in 50mm sub-arrays illuminate arrays of photovoltaic cells with 49X concentration. Fine tracking over {+-}10{sup o} FOV in sub-array allows coarse tracking by meter-sized solar panels. Plastic prototype demonstrated for 400nm < {lambda} < 1600 nm. We have designed a solar collector that will be composed of 50-mm-diameter sub-arrays, each containing {approx}100 5-mm plastic micro-lenses. Each micro-lens illuminates a stack of about four 0.7mm PV cells that collect sunlight from 400nm to 1600 nm with a theoretical efficiency approaching 50%. Each sub-array has internal solar tracking and alignment over a {+-}10{sup o} field, so a large array of sub-arrays only needs to coarsely track the sun. The refractive lenses in the design are thin so the optical transmission can be >90% and the optics will weigh very little. There are other optical properties incorporated in this design that help the photovoltaic cells to operate very efficiently. We are building a pre-prototype system now, and will describe our progress at the conference.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratories
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 1044953
- Report Number(s):
- SAND2010-0876C
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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