Concentrator Photovoltaics (CPV) technology relies on optical systems that concentrate sunlight on solar cells in exchange for a reduction of the permitted angular tolerance when pointing at the sun. A proper alignment between optics and photovoltaic receivers is crucial for the performance of this technology, particularly point focus CPV systems with concentration ratios above 100X that have narrow angular tolerances. This study presents the theoretical fundamentals of a method for evaluating misalignments in a CPV module. The method is based on the acquisition and analysis of images, taken by a camera, of the photovoltaic receivers magnified through the primary optics. The method has been successfully validated by empirical measurements and ray tracing simulations of a single lens-receiver unit.

A key aspect in the performance of a concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) module is a proper alignment between the optics and the photovoltaic solar cell. This work proposes a novel method for measuring misalignments in CPV at different levels, considering misalignments between units at module level or misalignments between modules at tracker level. The method is based on images acquisition (using a CCD camera) and its processing. To validate the method, a CPV module has been measured and results have been compared with a proven method given by the Module Optical Analyzer (MOA).

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Micro-scale concentrator photovoltaics (micro-CPV) is an emerging trend for the development of high-efficiency, low-cost photovoltaic systems. The miniaturization of optics and cells offers advantages in terms of performance and enables differentiation in the PV market. However, the sub-millimeter size of the solar cells used, the intrinsic narrow angular tolerance of CPV optical systems (typically around 0.5° and 2°), and the massive number of cells per module lead to very tight mechanical tolerances. Therefore, determining the misalignments between cells and optics is important for quality control inspection of modules. In this paper, we describe a method for characterizing these misalignments based on image acquisition and its subsequent processing and apply it to a micro-CPV module composed of 572 lens-cell units. This method is validated, using a unique experimental technique that takes advantage of the tracking system embedded in the module. The statistical distributions of misalignments are compared for two tracking positions, residuals are determined and shows the consistency of the method. Finally, the impact of misalignment distributions on the IV curve of the module is discussed.

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