Abstract
The crossed compound parabolic concentrator (CCPC) is one of the most efficient non-imaging solar concentrators used as a stationary solar concentrator or as a second stage solar concentrator. In this study, the CCPC is modified to demonstrate for the first time a new generation of solar concentrators working simultaneously as an electricity generator and thermal collector. The CCPC is designed to have two complementary surfaces, one reflective and one absorptive, and is named as an absorptive/reflective CCPC (AR-CCPC). Usually, the height of the CCPC is truncated with a minor sacrifice of the geometric concentration. These truncated surfaces rather than being eliminated are instead replaced with absorbent surfaces to collect heat from solar radiation. The optical efficiency including absorptive/reflective part of the AR-CCPC was simulated and compared for different geometric concentration ratios varying from 3.6× to 4×. It was found that the combined optical efficiency of the AR-CCPC 3.6×/4× remained constant and high all day long and that it had the highest total optical efficiency compared to other concentrators. In addition, the temperature distributions of AR-CCPC surfaces and the assembled solar cell were simulated based on those heat flux boundary conditions. It was shown that the addition of a thermal absorbent surface can increase the wall temperature. The maximum value reached 321.5K at the front wall under 50° incidence. The experimental verification was also adopted to show the benefits of using absorbent surfaces. The initial results are very promising and significant for the enhancement of solar concentrator systems with lower concentrations.
Highlights
Renewable energy offers a valuable solution to the challenges facing energy security and plays an important role in the reduction of global warming
The cost of CPV modules could be reduced by increasing the output per unit solar cell and this could be achieved by replacing the expensive solar cells with a low cost optical material [2], such as using Fresnel lens [3], refractive mirrors based on the total internal reflections [4], the reflective imaging [5] and non-imaging (CPC type) solar concentrators [6]
Once the size of entry square is determined by formula (1), the height can be obtained through drawing programs. 3.6Â/4Â in the figure represents truncating a full height of a 4Â CCPC by a down-part reflector with 3.6Â concentration
Summary
Renewable energy offers a valuable solution to the challenges facing energy security and plays an important role in the reduction of global warming. The cost of CPV modules could be reduced by increasing the output per unit solar cell and this could be achieved by replacing the expensive solar cells with a low cost optical material [2], such as using Fresnel lens [3], refractive mirrors based on the total internal reflections [4], the reflective imaging [5] and non-imaging (CPC type) solar concentrators [6]. Ts S building integrated photovoltaic user-defined functions density (kg/m3) wall temperature (K) energy source term saved; the building itself is maintained as a free support For these reasons, the BIPV has been recognized as a great potential way to bring a faster development stage for solar energy [9]. These initial results are very promising and significant for the enhancement of solar concentrator systems with lower concentrations
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