High-concentration photovoltaic module design
Over the past 3 years, Black and Veatch has been leading a team in the ongoing design of a high-concentration, high-performance photovoltaic (PV) module for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The current design consists of a deep-drawn aluminized steel housing containing 48 cell packages in a 4-row by 12-column matrix. Each cell package includes an anodized aluminum secondary optical element, a 27.5% efficient Stanford University/EPRI 500X concentration point contact silicon PV cell, an alumina substrate, and a copper heat spreader. Developmental efforts underway for a comolded glass/polymer Fresnel lens parquet indicate the potential for a substantial decrease in molding time and, thereby, cost, in comparison to more conventional compression molding of acrylic lenses. Further development is necessary to achieve comparable optical performance of the lens. Current activities have included the development of PVOPTICS, a Monte Carlo computer code particularly suited to the module optical design. The module is projected to produce 287 watts at an efficiency of 22%. The module cost, at large production rates, is estimated to be $275 ($0.96 per watt).
- Research Organization:
- Black and Veatch, Kansas City, MO (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5294369
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-AP-4752; ON: TI86920455
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELLS
COST ESTIMATION
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
FRESNEL LENS
HEAT SINKS
LENSES
MONTE CARLO METHOD
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SIMULATION
SINKS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TESTING
THERMAL ANALYSIS