A transmissive, spectrum-splitting concentrating photovoltaic module for hybrid photovoltaic-solar thermal energy conversion

Journal Article · 21 September 2016 · Solar Energy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.08.057 · OSTI ID:1461971

Xu, Qi ^[1]; Ji, Yaping ^[2]; Riggs, Brian  ^[2]; Ollanik, Adam  ^[2]; Farrar-Foley, Nicholas ^[2]; Ermer, Jim H. ^[3]; Romanin, Vince ^[4]; Lynn, Pete ^[4]; Codd, Daniel ^[5]; Escarra, Matthew D.  ^[2]

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1. Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA (United States); Tulane University
2. Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA (United States)
3. Boeing-Spectrolab Inc., Sylmar, CA (United States)
4. Otherlab, San Francisco, CA (United States)
5. Univ. of San Diego, San Diego, CA (United States)

Here, a spectrum splitting, transmissive concentrating photovoltaic (tCPV) module is proposed and designed for a hybrid photovoltaic-solar thermal(PV/T) system. This module enables the system to more fully utilize the full spectrum of incoming sunlight. By utilizing III-V triple junction solar cells with bandgaps of 2.1eV/1.7eV/1.4eVin the module, ultraviolet (UV) and visible light will be absorbed and converted to electricity, while infrared (IR) light will pass through and be captured by a solar thermal receiver and stored as heat. The stored heat energy may be dispatched as electricity or process heat, as needed.Numerical analysis based on the Finite Elemental Method (FEM), ray tracing, circuit analysis, device modelling, and more is employed to design this tCPV module. According to these simulations, the tCPV module can perform with overall power conversion efficiency exceeding 43.5% for above bandgap (in-band)light under a standard AM1.5D solar spectrum, under an average concentration ratio of 400 suns.Passive and active cooling methods, keeping cells below 110°C, are also investigated and discussed, indicating that a transparent active cooling design could improve the CPV module efficiency by around 1%(absolute), relative to a passive design,by reducing the maximum cell working temperature by ~16°C. Furthermore, cost analysis shows that installation cost of around 1.9/W–2.2/W could be reached for the tCPV based PV/T system,which shows a competitive economic advantage compared to a more conventional PV with battery system.

• 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: 1461971
• Journal Information: Solar Energy, Journal Name: Solar Energy Journal Issue: C Vol. 137; ISSN 0038-092X
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English