Concentrator shape optimization using particle swarm optimization for solar concentrating photovoltaic applications

Abstract

For solar concentrating photovoltaic applications, line-focusing collectors, such as parabolic trough collectors, can accommodate greater numbers of PV cells at their focus compared to point focusing collectors. However, there is a dearth of research related to homogenizing the flux distribution in such collectors. Therefore, this paper aimed to develop a method for optimizing the shape of a concentrator that has the same geometrical characteristics as a parabolic trough concentrator (PTC) but high flux homogeneity. The customization of the curve was controlled by introducing guide points and forming a curve passing through these points using the Newton Interpolation Polynomial. The ray tracing was then used to obtain the concentration ratio (C) and the solar flux distribution uniformity factor (μ) for the customized concentrator as performance factors. Then, the location of guide points was optimized using the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm to achieve the greatest value of μ. The results showed that the shape of a PTC having C=8.96 and μ=0.068 can be optimized to produce a concentrator having nearly the same value of C but μ=0.7352, which is ∼10 times better. An online computer tool for the evaluation purpose was also developed and has been made available to use for free.