Modeling of stimulated emission based luminescent solar concentrators

Abstract

The efficiency improvement of luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) necessary for practical realization is currently hindered by one major loss mechanism: reabsorption of emitted photons by the luminophores. Recently, we explored a promising technique for reducing reabsorption and also improving directional emission in LSCs utilizing stimulated emission, rather than only spontaneous emission, with an inexpensive seed laser. In this work, a model is developed to quantify the gain (i.e. the amount of amplification of a low power seed laser propagating through the solar-pumped concentrator) of stimulated-LSCs (s-LSCs) considering the effects of different important physical parameters. The net optical output power, available for a small PV cell, from the concentrator can also be determined from the model, which indicates the performance of s-LSCs. Finally, the performance of different existing material systems is investigated using literature values of the parameters required for the model, and a set of optimal parameters is suggested for practical realization of such a device.

IntiWear: acrylic glass as a solar energy concentrator for wearables

“…It makes that a portion of the fluorescence to be re-absorbed by the same dye. 33,41 The dyes for LC cannot absorb the whole solar irradiance because a spectral windows is needed for the fluorescent emission. Otherwise the fluorescence would be reabsorbed suddenly.…”

“…Increasing the concentration also makes increase the self-absorption into the LC. 33,41,42 Therefore, the optimum concentration must be established to generate the adequate photocurrent, since a concentrations smaller or larger to this value, generate minor photocurrent. The optimal concentration depends mainly of the geometrical dimensions of the LC and the chosen pvcell.…”

Ray trace modeling to characterize efficiency of unconventional luminescent solar concentrator geometries

“…Mathematical models have accompanied experimental results since the concept was proposed in the 1970s, 10,[34][35][36] and considered standard optical events such as absorption, photoluminescence, light trapping by the waveguide, and reabsorption of emitted photons. More complex optical models have also been developed, which have simulated both single-and four-edge LSCs, 37 coated cylindrical LSCs, 38 anisotropic luminescence, 39 stimulated emission, 40 collector shape, 33 and two-layer LSCs. 41 Thermodynamic LSC models are another class initially proposed in 1980 by Yablonovitch, 42 which consider rate balance equations applied to volume elements that are then integrated over the entire LSC to obtain a model of performance.…”