Field testing of a spectrum-splitting transmissive concentrator photovoltaic module

Robertson, John; Riggs, Brian; Islam, Kazi; Ji, Yaping Vera; Spitler, Christopher M.; Gupta, Naman; Krut, Dimitri; Ermer, Jim; Miller, Fletcher; Codd, Daniel; Escarra, Matthew

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2019.02.117

Field testing of a spectrum-splitting transmissive concentrator photovoltaic module

Journal Article · Thu Feb 21 23:00:00 EST 2019 · Renewable Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.02.117· OSTI ID:1613611

^[1]; Riggs, Brian ^[2]; Islam, Kazi ^[2]; Ji, Yaping Vera ^[2]; Spitler, Christopher M. ^[3]; Gupta, Naman ^[4]; Krut, Dimitri ^[5]; Ermer, Jim ^[5]; Miller, Fletcher ^[4]; Codd, Daniel ^[3]; Escarra, Matthew ^[2]

Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA (United States); DOE/OSTI
Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA (United States)
Univ. of San Diego, San Diego, CA (United States)
San Diego State Univ., CA (United States)
Boeing-Spectrolab, Sylmar, CA (United States)

Hybrid photovoltaic-thermal systems can decouple IR light from visible light, allowing it to be collected separately by spectrum-optimized mechanisms for increased total efficiency. To demonstrate this, we have designed and prototyped a transmissive spectrum-splitting concentrator photovoltaic module that maximizes solar energy conversion by utilizing the entire solar spectrum. The system first collects visible light using IR-transmissive triple-junction photovoltaic cells to achieve an in-band module efficiency of $η_{m}^{I B}$ = 34.7% for light of wavelengths λ < 870 nm. Simultaneously, 58.8% of light with λ > 870 nm is transmitted through the cells for collection by a thermal receiver. By combining electrical and thermal power collection, 75% of incident solar power is collected, far surpassing the collection capability of only photovoltaics. The module was tested on a dual-axis tracked parabolic concentrator dish at up to 160 suns for 60 cumulative on-sun hours while maintaining photovoltaic cell temperatures at an average of 50 °C via active cooling. The system performed as expected based on modeled values, and represents a cost-effective path forward for dual-generation of electricity and high-temperature heat with increased total efficiency. The capability is valuable in a wide range of commercial and industrial cogeneration applications.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)

Grant/Contract Number:: AR0000473

OSTI ID:: 1613611

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1636729

Journal Information:: Renewable Energy, Journal Name: Renewable Energy Vol. 139; ISSN 0960-1481

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (26)

Effects of mismatch losses in photovoltaic arrays Chamberlin, Charles E.; Lehman, Peter; Zoellick, James Solar Energy, Vol. 54, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(94)00120-3	journal	March 1995
A high efficiency solar air conditioner using concentrating photovoltaic/thermal collectors Al-Alili, A.; Hwang, Y.; Radermacher, R. Applied Energy, Vol. 93 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.05.010	journal	May 2012
Novel double-stage high-concentrated solar hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collector with nonimaging optics and GaAs solar cells reflector Abdelhamid, Mahmoud; Widyolar, Bennett K.; Jiang, Lun Applied Energy, Vol. 182 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.07.127	journal	November 2016
Techno-economic analysis of hybrid PV/T systems for process heat using electricity to subsidize the cost of heat Riggs, Brian C.; Biedenharn, Richard; Dougher, Christopher Applied Energy, Vol. 208 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.09.018	journal	December 2017
Spectral beam splitting in hybrid PV/T parabolic trough systems for power generation Widyolar, Bennett; Jiang, Lun; Winston, Roland Applied Energy, Vol. 209 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.10.078	journal	January 2018
Transmissive microfluidic active cooling for concentrator photovoltaics Islam, Kazi; Riggs, Brian; Ji, Yaping Applied Energy, Vol. 236 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.12.027	journal	February 2019
Evaluating the Thermal and Electrical Performance of Several Uncovered PVT Collectors with a Field Test de Keizer, Corry; de Jong, Minne; Mendes, Tiago Energy Procedia, Vol. 91 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2016.06.166	journal	June 2016
Indoor experimental analysis of glazed hybrid photovoltaic thermal tiles air collector connected in series Agrawal, Sanjay; Tiwari, G. N.; Pandey, H. D. Energy and Buildings, Vol. 53 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2012.06.009	journal	October 2012
Solar cooling with concentrating photovoltaic/thermal (CPVT) systems Mittelman, Gur; Kribus, Abraham; Dayan, Abraham Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 48, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2007.04.004	journal	September 2007
A novel solar trigeneration system based on concentrating photovoltaic/thermal collectors. Part 1: Design and simulation model Buonomano, Annamaria; Calise, Francesco; Dentice d'Accadia, Massimo Energy, Vol. 61 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2013.02.009	journal	November 2013
Development of a low-cost dish solar concentrator and its application in zeolite desorption Palavras, I.; Bakos, G. C. Renewable Energy, Vol. 31, Issue 15 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2005.11.007	journal	December 2006
Design, simulation and experimental characterization of a novel parabolic trough hybrid solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collector Widyolar, Bennett K.; Abdelhamid, Mahmoud; Jiang, Lun Renewable Energy, Vol. 101 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.10.014	journal	February 2017
Detailed performance model of a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal system utilizing selective spectral nanofluid absorption Brekke, Nick; Dale, John; DeJarnette, Drew Renewable Energy, Vol. 123 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2018.01.025	journal	August 2018
Concentrated photovoltaic thermal (CPVT) solar collector systems: Part II – Implemented systems, performance assessment, and future directions Sharaf, Omar Z.; Orhan, Mehmet F. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 50 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.07.215	journal	October 2015
Concentrated photovoltaic thermal (CPVT) solar collector systems: Part I – Fundamentals, design considerations and current technologies Sharaf, Omar Z.; Orhan, Mehmet F. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 50 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.05.036	journal	October 2015
Solar industrial process heating: A review Sharma, Ashish K.; Sharma, Chandan; Mullick, Subhash C. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 78 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.04.079	journal	October 2017
A review of transparent solar photovoltaic technologies Husain, Alaa A. F.; Hasan, Wan Zuha W.; Shafie, Suhaidi Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 94 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.06.031	journal	October 2018
Hybrid photovoltaic-thermosyphon water heating system for residential application Chow, T. T.; He, W.; Ji, J. Solar Energy, Vol. 80, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2005.02.003	journal	March 2006
Exergetic and enviroeconomic analysis of novel hybrid PVT array Rajoria, C. S.; Agrawal, Sanjay; Tiwari, G. N. Solar Energy, Vol. 88 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2012.11.018	journal	February 2013
A transmissive, spectrum-splitting concentrating photovoltaic module for hybrid photovoltaic-solar thermal energy conversion Xu, Qi; Ji, Yaping; Riggs, Brian Solar Energy, Vol. 137 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.08.057	journal	November 2016
Design and modeling of a spectrum-splitting hybrid CSP-CPV parabolic trough using two-stage high concentration optics and dual junction InGaP/GaAs solar cells Widyolar, Bennett; Jiang, Lun; Abdelhamid, Mahmoud Solar Energy, Vol. 165 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2018.03.015	journal	May 2018
Energy efficiency to reduce residential electricity and natural gas use under climate change Reyna, Janet L.; Chester, Mikhail V. Nature Communications, Vol. 8, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14916	journal	May 2017
Transmissive concentrator multijunction solar cells with over 47% in-band power conversion efficiency Xu, Qi; Ji, Yaping; Krut, Dimitri D. Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 109, Issue 19 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4967376	journal	November 2016
PVMirror: A New Concept for Tandem Solar Cells and Hybrid Solar Converters Yu, Zhengshan J.; Fisher, Kathryn C.; Wheelwright, Brian M. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Vol. 5, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2015.2458571	journal	November 2015
Optical Design and Validation of an Infrared Transmissive Spectrum Splitting Concentrator Photovoltaic Module Ji, Yaping; Xu, Qi; Riggs, Brian IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Vol. 7, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2017.2716960	journal	September 2017
The optical design and performance of a concentrator photovoltaic module Schultz, Ross Dane; Van Dyk, Ernest E.; Vorster, Frederik J. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, Vol. 26, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2015/v26i2a2196	journal	April 2017

Similar Records

A transmissive concentrator photovoltaic module with cells directly cooled by silicone oil for solar cogeneration systems

Journal Article · Thu Feb 18 23:00:00 EST 2021 · Applied Energy · OSTI ID:1848192

Transmissive concentrated photovoltaic module with cooling system

Patent · Mon Feb 19 23:00:00 EST 2024 · OSTI ID:2541834

Efficient light-trapping in ultrathin GaAs solar cells using quasi-random photonic crystals

Journal Article · Sat Feb 26 23:00:00 EST 2022 · Nano Energy · OSTI ID:1854133

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
cogeneration
hybrid
photovoltaic
solar
thermal

Field testing of a spectrum-splitting transmissive concentrator photovoltaic module

Citation Formats

References (26)

Similar Records

Related Subjects