The present work was devoted to the development and investigation of secondary optical elements for concentrator photovoltaic modules with Fresnel lenses. The reflective and solid truncated cones and pyramids are used as secondary concentrators. The acceptance angle of updated concentrator photovoltaic module was more than twice increased.

The results of studying the effect of various conditions of heat dissipation on heating and temperature distribution in components of concentrator photovoltaic modules are reported. The modules based on Fresnel lenses and triple-junction solar cells InGaP/GaAs/Ge mounted on copper and steel heat sinks are studied. In order to determine the thermal characteristics, we use a method, which makes it possible to measure the temperature of the p–n junctions in the solar cells under laboratory conditions upon the simulation of thermal processes arising in the course of operation of the module under typical conditions. Further, the above temperature is used to calculate the value of the thermal resistance for a system consisting of a solar cell and the surrounding medium. The thermal processes in the module are simulated by transferring current through the solar cells in the forward-bias direction. The value of heating of the solar cells is determined by comparing the forward-voltage drops measured at the time of its rapid application or switching-off under various conditions of heat removal. The conditions of heat removal are varied using the generator’s air flow.

In the article the results of investigation of characterics of electro insulated heatsinks of different design are presented. For the material of the heatsinks AlN and Al2O3 ceramics along with alumina were chosen. Thermal characteristics of the heatsinks has been studied by measuring temperature of p-n junctions of solar cells mounted on heatsinks under thermal loading. The minimum overheating temperature of p-n junction was 45°C with input thermal power equal 13 W, when solar cells were mounted on AlN ceramic. In case of using Al2O3 ceramic and alumina heatsinks the temperatures were 49°C, and 70°C respectively.

Предложена методика для исследования тепловых свойств фотоэлектрических концентраторных модулей в помещении в затемненных условиях, сочетающая в себе процедуру нагрева модуля за счет пропускания постоянного тока и последующего быстрого измерения вольт-амперных характеристик, в течение которого температура фотоэлементов не успевает значительно измениться за счет теплоемкости материала. Были проведены сравнения характеристик шести типов концентраторных модулей, отличающихся конструкцией, размерами и материалами теплоотводов. Для концентраторных модулей больших размеров исследовано влияние пространственного расположения модулей на эффективность теплосброса. Ключевые слова: концентраторные фотоэлектрические модули, тепловое сопротивление, p-n-переход, солнечные фотоэлементы, теплоотвод.

To study concentrator photovoltaic modules with GaInP/GaInAs/Ge triple-junction solar cells we used the measurement capabilities of a solar simulator accompanied by a computer simulation. The comparison of values of parameters for a module, Fresnel lens and triple-junction solar cell, obtained both experimentally and computed by means of the computer simulation, demonstrated good matching of results and high precision of calculations using the software. This allows to use both methods simultaneously to explain processes of radiation conversion in the system concentrator–solar cell and predict the values of module parameters under various external focusing conditions. The utilization of both methods revealed the impact of lateral currents on the total photo current of solar cells inside a module. For the system Fresnel lens–multi-junction solar cell we determined the possible cases of power loses associated with internal resistance of the cells. Output parameters of the module under varying spectrum of incoming radiation has been calculated using software.