Influence of an aluminium concentrator corrosion on the output characteristic of a photovoltaic system

Abstract

The climate changes observed over the last decades have been promoting a massive transformation on the energy sector, that is still, in truth highly dependent on fossil fuels. Renewable energies are a plausible alternative, because they have lower emissions of toxic gases in comparison with non-renewable ones. In the group of renewable energies, solar technology has the biggest overall potential, mainly because it is cheap and easy to set. Several solar technologies allow to equip their photovoltaic panels with concentrators, mostly to increase the output power and possibly their efficiency. However, some problems related to the use of concentrators have to be dealt in order to improve the entire photovoltaic system performance. One of these issues is the corrosion of the concentrators, leading to a premature ageing and, consequently an increase in maintenance costs. This problem is going to be analysed in this paper, presenting some simulation from a ray traicing software and also some experimental results, from our own laboratory experiences. The used software allows to trace the solar rays of the concentrator, in order to assess the effect of the defects caused by corrosion due to the ambient circumstances. After it, experimental results will help to analyse this effect and to prove simulation ones.

Optical Nanoantennas for Photovoltaic Applications

“…It is necessary to take into account the voltage drop in the circuit up to the external contacts, which can be represented by a series resistance R s and also the leakage currents, which can be represented by a parallel resistance, R p . The influence of these parameters on the I-V characteristic of the solar cell can be studied using the equivalent circuit presented on Figure 11 [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42]. The model parameters are I s , I 0 , n, R s , and R p , and thus the output current can be related to the output voltage based on expression 13 [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42].…”

Effect of the Inclusion of Photovoltaic Solar Panels in the Autonomy of UAV Time of Flight

“…The energy steamed in the solar panels is expected to be able to enhance the aerial vehicles time of flight by its storing in the batteries, narrowing the effects of the propulsion and other systems power consumption [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. In order to do that, appropriate solar cells need to be chosen.…”

“…Nowadays, photovoltaic cells are divided into three generations: wafer based or first generation, whose method of fabrication consists in creating slices, or wafers, of semiconductor material; thin-film or second generation, focused in producing flexible and weightless cells, with the disadvantage of lower efficiency; and third generation or emerging photovoltaics, which endeavors to achieve first generation efficiency with second generation thin-film technique without the use of toxic and limited materials [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19].…”

“…The objective of this article is extremely sensitive to additional weight and due to its reduced dimensions needs the highest efficiency possible, reason why both the first and second generations were excluded. As a result of its high efficiency and accessible non-toxic material, second generation Flexible Thin Crystalline Silicon solar cells, were chosen as the preferred to coat the UAV [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Typically this type of cells have a thickness between 20 µm and 50 µm, length from 50 mm to 100 mm, width with range from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm and are most commonly made of mono-crystalline silicon [20].…”

“…Solar panels were created by Charles Fritts in mid 1880s and were considered by the inventor a way to revolutionize the energy production and the related pollution [3]. From its birth to current times, solar technology keeps evolving and adapting to the consumer needs, taking into particular consideration the resonating factor: its efficiency [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Although its importance is unquestionable, the UAVs have, as aforementioned, aspects that cannot be discredited, being a shape that cannot be altered and a weight that can fluctuate fairly from the original value.…”