An Optical Concentrator System to perform a Light-Soaking Indoor Test on Photovoltaic Receivers

Abstract

In this paper the designs, realization and indoor and outdoor experimental results of a laboratory test facility system for Concentrator Photovoltaic Receivers (CPR) characterization are reported. In particular, the proposed system has been developed in order to perform tests on CPRs characterized by high geometrical concentration factor (Cgeo). The test facility system is devoted to verify and qualify the behavior of CPR from different points of view. The system design has been developed paying particular attention to the test bench used for the evaluation of I-V characteristics of concentrator solar cells under high geometrical concentration factors. The preliminary study activity has been focused on the irradiance level, light source spectral composition, exposition time and operation temperature dependences of CPR characterization process. The main purpose of this research is to propose in the next future novel tests to qualify the CPR system for a long-time operation (Light-Soaking and/or Hot-spot endurance tests). To execute measurements in a wide range of concentration, an opto-mechanical system for continuous light solar simulator coupling has been designed. The realized prototype produces a maximal geometrical concentration factor equal or less than 900x for testing Solar cells of an active area of 1 cm2.