Performance of a one kilowatt concentrator photovoltaic array utilizing active cooling

Conference · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:6772601

Burgess, E L; Pritchard, D A

Operational experience on a 1-kW concentrating photovoltaic array incorporating silicon solar cells and Fresnel lenses is reported. The array was operated in two modes of active cooling. The first mode provides cell cooling by pumping water through tubes attached to the heatsink behind the solar cells. The array is also cooled in this mode by natural convection from both the front and back of the heatsink. The second mode of active cooling involves operating the array as a combined thermal/electrical system. In this combined thermal/electrical mode approximately 58% of the incident solar energy can be collected for thermal and electrical utilization.

• Research Organization: Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, N.Mex. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0789
• OSTI ID: 6772601
• Report Number(s): SAND-78-0946C; CONF-780619-5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
141000 -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
COMBINED COLLECTORS
CONVECTION
COOLING SYSTEMS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FRESNEL LENS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LENSES
NATURAL CONVECTION
OPTICAL SYSTEMS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
POWER RANGE 100-1000 W
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
WATER