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Enhancing the efficiency of solar concentrators by controlled optical aberrations: Method and photovoltaic application

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  • Giannuzzi, Alessandra
  • Diolaiti, Emiliano
  • Lombini, Matteo
  • De Rosa, Adriano
  • Marano, Bruno
  • Bregoli, Giovanni
  • Cosentino, Giuseppe
  • Foppiani, Italo
  • Schreiber, Laura

Abstract

We present a general method, based on controlled static aberrations induced in the reflectors, to boost receiver performances in solar concentrators. Imaging mirrors coupled with dense arrays suffer from severe performance degradation since the solar irradiance distribution is bell-shaped: mismatch losses occur in particular when the cells are series connected. The method consists in computing static deformations of the reflecting surfaces that can produce, for an adopted concentration ratio, a light spot matching the receiver features better than conventional reflectors. The surfaces and the deformations have been analytically described employing the Zernike polynomials formalism. The concept here described can be applied to a variety of optical configurations and collecting areas. As an example, we extensively investigated a dense array photovoltaic concentrator, dimensioned for a nominal power of about 10kWe. The “flat” distribution of light we obtain can exploit the PV device cells close to their efficiency limit. A significant gain is thus obtained, with no need of secondary optics or complex dish segmentation and of special features in the receiver electrical scheme. In the design, based on seven 2.6m mirrors, we addressed also non-optical aspects as the receiver and the supporting mechanics. Optical and mechanical tolerances are demonstrated not to exceed accurate, but conventional, industrial standards.

Suggested Citation

  • Giannuzzi, Alessandra & Diolaiti, Emiliano & Lombini, Matteo & De Rosa, Adriano & Marano, Bruno & Bregoli, Giovanni & Cosentino, Giuseppe & Foppiani, Italo & Schreiber, Laura, 2015. "Enhancing the efficiency of solar concentrators by controlled optical aberrations: Method and photovoltaic application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 211-222.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:145:y:2015:i:c:p:211-222
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.01.085
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Riveros-Rosas, David & Sánchez-González, Marcelino & Arancibia-Bulnes, Camilo A. & Estrada, Claudio A., 2011. "Influence of the size of facets on point focus solar concentrators," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 966-970.
    2. Singh, Panna Lal & Sarviya, R.M. & Bhagoria, J.L., 2010. "Thermal performance of linear Fresnel reflecting solar concentrator with trapezoidal cavity absorbers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 541-550, February.
    3. Siaw, Fei-Lu & Chong, Kok-Keong & Wong, Chee-Woon, 2014. "A comprehensive study of dense-array concentrator photovoltaic system using non-imaging planar concentrator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 542-555.
    4. Baig, Hasan & Heasman, Keith C. & Mallick, Tapas K., 2012. "Non-uniform illumination in concentrating solar cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 5890-5909.
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    1. Yan, Jian & Peng, You-duo & Cheng, Zi-ran, 2018. "Optimization of a discrete dish concentrator for uniform flux distribution on the cavity receiver of solar concentrator system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PA), pages 431-445.
    2. Arias-Rosales, Andrés & Mejía-Gutiérrez, Ricardo, 2018. "Optimization of V-Trough photovoltaic concentrators through genetic algorithms with heuristics based on Weibull distributions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 122-140.
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    5. Yan, Jian & Liu, Yong-xiang & Peng, You-Duo, 2022. "Study on the optical performance of novel dish solar concentrator formed by rotating array of plane mirrors with the same size," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 416-430.
    6. Ju, Xing & Pan, Xinyu & Zhang, Zheyang & Xu, Chao & Wei, Gaosheng, 2019. "Thermal and electrical performance of the dense-array concentrating photovoltaic (DA-CPV) system under non-uniform illumination," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 904-915.
    7. Wang, Cheng-Long & Gong, Jing-Hu & Yan, Jia-Jie & Zhou, Yuan & Fan, Duo-Wang, 2019. "Theoretical and experimental study on the uniformity of reflective high concentration photovoltaic system with light funnel," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 893-900.
    8. Ancona, M.A. & Bianchi, M. & Diolaiti, E. & Giannuzzi, A. & Marano, B. & Melino, F. & Peretto, A., 2017. "A novel solar concentrator system for combined heat and power application in residential sector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1199-1209.

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