Spectral splitting optimization for high-efficiency solar photovoltaic and thermal power generation
Abstract
Utilizing the full solar spectrum is desirable to enhance the conversion efficiency of a solar power generator. In practice, this can be achieved through spectral splitting between multiple converters in parallel. However, it is unclear which wavelength bands should be directed to each converter in order to maximize the efficiency. We developed a model of an ideal hybrid solar converter which utilizes both a single-junction photovoltaic cell and a thermal engine. We determined the limiting efficiencies of this hybrid strategy and the corresponding optimum spectral bandwidth directed to the photovoltaic cell. This optimum width is inversely proportional to the thermal engine efficiency and scales with the bandgap of the photovoltaic cell. This bandwidth was also obtained analytically through an entropy minimization scheme and matches well with our model. We show that the maximum efficiency of the system occurs when it minimizes the spectral entropy generation. This concept can be extended to capture generalized non-idealities to increase the usefulness of this technique for a range of full solar spectrum utilization technologies.
- Authors:
-
[1];
[2];
- Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
- Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States); Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Solid-State Solar-Thermal Energy Conversion Center (S3TEC)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1473861
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1336498
- Grant/Contract Number:
- FG02-09ER46577; SC0001299; #DE-FG02-09ER46577
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Applied Physics Letters
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 109; Journal Issue: 24; Journal ID: ISSN 0003-6951
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; Band Gap; Equilibrium Thermodynamics; Photovoltaics; Blackbody; Solar Cells; Statistical Thermodynamics
Citation Formats
Bierman, David M., Lenert, Andrej, and Wang, Evelyn N. Spectral splitting optimization for high-efficiency solar photovoltaic and thermal power generation. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.1063/1.4971309.
Bierman, David M., Lenert, Andrej, & Wang, Evelyn N. Spectral splitting optimization for high-efficiency solar photovoltaic and thermal power generation. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4971309
Bierman, David M., Lenert, Andrej, and Wang, Evelyn N. Fri .
"Spectral splitting optimization for high-efficiency solar photovoltaic and thermal power generation". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4971309. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1473861.
@article{osti_1473861,
title = {Spectral splitting optimization for high-efficiency solar photovoltaic and thermal power generation},
author = {Bierman, David M. and Lenert, Andrej and Wang, Evelyn N.},
abstractNote = {Utilizing the full solar spectrum is desirable to enhance the conversion efficiency of a solar power generator. In practice, this can be achieved through spectral splitting between multiple converters in parallel. However, it is unclear which wavelength bands should be directed to each converter in order to maximize the efficiency. We developed a model of an ideal hybrid solar converter which utilizes both a single-junction photovoltaic cell and a thermal engine. We determined the limiting efficiencies of this hybrid strategy and the corresponding optimum spectral bandwidth directed to the photovoltaic cell. This optimum width is inversely proportional to the thermal engine efficiency and scales with the bandgap of the photovoltaic cell. This bandwidth was also obtained analytically through an entropy minimization scheme and matches well with our model. We show that the maximum efficiency of the system occurs when it minimizes the spectral entropy generation. This concept can be extended to capture generalized non-idealities to increase the usefulness of this technique for a range of full solar spectrum utilization technologies.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4971309},
journal = {Applied Physics Letters},
number = 24,
volume = 109,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Dec 16 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Fri Dec 16 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}
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- Dang, Liqin; Yang, Zhimin; Lin, Guoxing
- Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, Vol. 39, Issue 3
Maximum efficiencies and parametric optimum designs of concentrating photovoltaic cell/heat engine systems with three‐band spectrum split
journal, May 2019
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Performance bounds and perspective for hybrid solar photovoltaic/thermal electricity-generation strategies
journal, January 2018
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