Wide-angle planar microtracking for quasi-static microcell concentrating photovoltaics

Price, Jared S.; Sheng, Xing; Meulblok, Bram M.; Rogers, John A.; Giebink, Noel C.

doi:10.1038/ncomms7223

Cited by 81 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…However there is no physical requirement that this 'rotational' approach to sun tracking is the only possible strategy. For example, it has been demonstrated that with appropriate optical design, tracking over a wide angular range may be achieved via small lateral translations of a collecting element [6,7], or by incorporating an optically active element which can vary its optical properties in response to the changing solar angle to create a 'self tracking' system that can track the sun reactively with no external inputs [8,9]. It has been proposed that tracking may be achieved via a localized, light-activated change in transparency to create a concentrating light trap with a dynamic aperture that moves in response to the changing solar angle to admit light over a wide angular range ( Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sun-tracking optical element realized using thermally activated transparency-switching material

Apostoleris¹,

Stefancich

Lilliu³

et al. 2015

Opt. Express

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We present a proof of concept demonstration of a novel optical element: a light-responsive aperture that can track a moving light beam. The element is created using a thermally-activated transparencyswitching material composed of paraffin wax and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Illumination of the material with a focused beam causes the formation of a localized transparency at the focal spot location, due to local heating caused by absorption of a portion of the incident light. An application is proposed in a new design for a self-tracking solar collector.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sun-tracking optical element realized using thermally activated transparency-switching material

Apostoleris¹,

Stefancich

Lilliu³

et al. 2015

Opt. Express

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The higher assembly cost arises from the need to put PV cells at each of the focus points of the array of primary optical elements. 6,[10][11][12][13] In contrast to the stepped waveguide design, [7][8][9] in the fully planar concentrator design (first proposed by Karp et al 5,6 ) sunlight collected by each aperture of the arrayed primary element (mirror or lens) is coupled into a slab waveguide using localized injection features such as prisms or microspheres. The approach using light guides for primary concentration has been commercialized by Morgan Solar.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Periodic microstructures for improved lens-to-waveguide coupling efficiency in microlens array planar solar concentrators

et al. 2015

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Downloaded From: http://photonicsforenergy.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 08/23/2015 Terms of Use: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/ss/TermsOfUse.aspx Abstract. Thin form-factor planar sunlight concentrators fabricated using low-cost materials in conjunction with high-efficiency solar cells may prove economically competitive with silicon photovoltaics. A periodic structure with planar interfaces employing an array of microlenses and coupling structures is amenable to high-volume imprint manufacturing and hence a drastic cost reduction. A numerical study of periodic prismatic void structures aligned with microlenses to efficiently couple incoming light into a constant cross-section channel waveguide is reported. Three different prism-like cut-out structures: a bare prism, a planar connected prism, and a pointed prism are proposed. Numerical results show that the proposed pointed prism design offers a high-efficiency coupling with one-sided output (90.8% and 85.4% peak efficiency at concentration ratios of 320× and 400×, respectively).

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“…The projected area [6] of a module decreases according to I = I sun · cos(elevation). Alternatively, micro-trackers form an interesting alternative that does not require to tilt the complete module [46].…”

Section: Incoupling Of Diffuse Light By External Light Trappingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploration of external light trapping for photovoltaic modules

Dijk¹,

Groep²,

Vece³

et al. 2016

Opt. Express

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Abstract:The reflection of incident sunlight by photovoltaic modules prevents them from reaching their theoretical energy conversion limit. We explore the effectiveness of a universal external light trap that can tackle this reflection loss. A unique feature of external light traps is their capability to simultaneously recycle various broadband sources of reflection on the module level, such as the reflection from the metal front grid, the front interfaces, the reflective backside of the cell, and the white back sheet. The reflected light is recycled in the space between the solar cell and a mirror above the solar cell. A concentrator funnels the light into this cage through a small aperture in the mirror. As a proof-of-principle experiment, a significant reflectance reduction of a bare crystalline silicon (c-Si) photodiode is demonstrated. In contrast to conventional light trapping methods, external light trapping does not induce any damage to the active solar cell material. Moreover, this is a universally applicable technology that enables the use of thin and planar solar cells of superior electrical quality that were so far hindered by limited optical absorption. We considered several trap designs and identified fabrication issues. A series of prototype millimeter-scale external metal light traps were milled and applied on an untextured c-Si photodiode, which is used as a model for future thin solar cells. We determined the concentrator transmittance and analyzed the effect of both the concentration factor and cage height on the absorptance and spatial intensity distribution on the surface of the solar cell. This relatively simple and comprehensive light management solution can be a promising candidate for highly efficient solar modules using thin c-Si solar cells. Electron. Dev. 33, 234-239 (1986). 9. A. Gabor, "Cell-to-module gains and losses in crystalline silicon pv, gabor photovoltaics consulting," July 10, 2013Intersolar NA. 10. G. Peharz, W. Nemitz, V. Schmidt, S. Schweitzer, W. Mühleisen, and C. Hirschl, "Investigations on the photonrecycling properties of different back-sheets," in Proceedings of EUPVSEC, (2014) (111) and (100) silicon/silicon oxide structure," in Proceedings of EUPVSEC, (2008), pp. 244-247. 16. K. Xiong, S. Lu, D. Jiang, J. Dong, and H. Yang, "Effective recombination velocity of textured surfaces," Appl.Phys. Lett. 96, 193107 (2010). 17. M. Green, "Limits on the open-circuit voltage and efficiency of silicon solar cells imposed by intrinsic auger processes," IEEE Trans. Electron. Dev. 31, 671-678 (1984).

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Wide-angle planar microtracking for quasi-static microcell concentrating photovoltaics

Cited by 81 publications

References 25 publications

Sun-tracking optical element realized using thermally activated transparency-switching material

Sun-tracking optical element realized using thermally activated transparency-switching material

Periodic microstructures for improved lens-to-waveguide coupling efficiency in microlens array planar solar concentrators

Exploration of external light trapping for photovoltaic modules

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