Annual Prediction Output of an RADTIRC-PV Module

Abstract

The number of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations has been increasing worldwide but the high capital cost of installation continues to be the main challenge, particularly in many developing countries. The solar concentrator, a device that focuses the sunlight onto a small area, has the potential to minimize the use of expensive PV material while maintaining the system's performance, ultimately bringing down its overall cost. This study aims to predict the annual electrical output of a specific concentrator design called the rotationally asymmetrical dielectric totally internally reflecting concentrator (RADTIRC). The aforementioned design is assumed to be installed in Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany. First, a short review of concentrators is provided. Next, a description of the RADTIRC and the previous research that revolved around it are provided. Afterwards, the key parameters that are needed to determine the annual electrical output of the RADTIRC are explained before presenting the results of the simulations. It was found that the yearly energy yield was increased by a factor of 2.29 when the RADTIRC-PV module was used when compared with the non-concentrating PV module.

Mathematical Modelling of a Static Concentrating Photovoltaic: Simulation and Experimental Validation

“…The procedure to create the RADTIRC has been described thoroughly by Ramirez-Iniguez et al [44]. For the past few years, several analyses have been carried out to evaluate the concentrator's performance such as evaluating its geometrical concentration gain and its optical concentration gain [45], identifying the most cost-effective fabrication technique to mass-produce the concentrator [46], integration in a double-glazed window [47] and calculating its annual energy output [48]. Based on these studies, it was found that it is more desirable to utilise a shorter RADTIRC that have a larger half-acceptance angle and a lower geometrical concentration gain than the ones with a smaller half-acceptance angle and a higher geometrical concentration gain because: (i) it requires less material hence minimises the cost of material; (ii) it captures the sun energy for extended period during daytime; and (iii) the concentrator exhibits a more uniform distribution of flux, i.e., the amount of 'hot spots' diminished on the PV cell, which translates to a lower temperature, and eventually allows the RADTRIC-PV structure to function at its optimum efficiency level.…”

Assessment of the RACPC Performance under Diffuse Radiation for Use in BIPV System

“…The concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) system is one of the most recent technological advances proposed to achieve this goal, since it replaces the solar cell material with a cheaper material of which the optical concentrator is made. To date, several types of CPV systems have been investigated incorporating many concentrator designs such as variations of compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs) [15][16][17][18][19], variations of dielectric totally internally reflecting concentrators (DTIRCs) [20,21], luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) [22,23], etc.…”

Improved design of a DC-DC converter in residential solar photovoltaic system

“…Continuous cost reduction and incentives from government are some factors that enable the uptake of this technology [2,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Additionally, it also has a cheaper installation cost and a lower maintenance cost when compared with other renewable sources [4], [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. In the United Kingdom (UK) for example, the solar PV systems range in size from small stand-alone systems to large scale, grid-connected power systems [1].…”