Comprehensive analysis on the assembly of a dielectric-filled crossed compound parabolic concentrator and a concentrator photovoltaic module
APPLIED OPTICS
Authors: Lee, Pei-Shan; Wong, Chee-Woon; Tan, Ming-Hui; Chong, Kok-Keong
Abstract
A comprehensive analysis on assembly of dielectric-filled 3D crossed compound parabolic concentrator (CCPC) and concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) module is presented by embracing the consideration of spectral irradiance, incident angles, and breakdown optical losses. The theoretical modeling is supported by experimental validation to evaluate the optical efficiency of the CCPC-CPV module. From our analysis, Fresnel reflection loss of 11.27%, absorption loss of 11.59%, and other losses of 4.79% are obtained to reach the total loss of 27.65% or equivalent solar concentration ratio (SCR) of 4.65 suns out of a geometrical concentration ratio (GCR) of 5.998 suns. Then, indoor and outdoor measurements prow the actual SCR of 4.57 and 4.48 suns, respectively. (C) 2020 Optical Society of America
Transmissive microfluidic active cooling for concentrator photovoltaics
APPLIED ENERGY
Authors: Islam, Kazi; Riggs, Brian; Ji, Yaping; Robertson, John; Spitler, Christopher; Romanin, Vince; Codd, Daniel; Escarra, Matthew D.
Abstract
We present the design, fabrication, characterization, and field testing of transmissive active cooling for use in a point-focus spectrum-splitting hybrid concentrator photovoltaics/thermal (CPV/T) system. Seven parallel-path 100 mu m thick microchannels are made using polydimethylsiloxane and attached to a CPV module containing a 6 x 6 array of 5.5 mm transmissive CPV cells on a sapphire substrate. Water is flowed through the micro-channels to actively cool the CPV cells. The total transmittance of the CPV module reduces by 5.2% with the addition of the active cooling microchannels, relative to the module transmission with no microchannels. The peak cell temperature is measured as 69 degrees C with a thermal resistance of 9.351 K/W at 157 suns, well below the 110 degrees C maximum allowed temperature. A maximum flowrate of 16.7 g/s is achieved from a 13 psi pressure drop across the microchannels and manifold assembly. The flow characteristics within each microfluidic channel show maximum fluid velocity of 4.3 m/s (Re = 953) with a calculated convection coefficient of 1.7 x 10(4) W/m(2)K (Nu = 5.36). The CPV/T module and cooling system performance was validated during week-long outdoor tests under varying solar conditions up to 250 suns using a 2.7 m(2) parabolic dish collector mounted to a two-axis tracking system.