Abstract
Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) are a promising technology for integration and renewable energy generation in buildings because they are inexpensive, lightweight, aesthetically versatile, can concentrate both direct and diffuse light and offer wavelength-selective transparency. LSCs have been extensively investigated for applications involving photovoltaic electricity generation. However, little work has been done to investigate the use of thermal energy generated at the edges of LSCs, despite the potential for harnessing a broad range of solar thermal energy. In this work, Newton’s law of cooling is used to measure the thermal power generated at the edge of LSC modules subjected to solar-simulated radiation. Results show that the dye in single-panel LSC modules can generate 17.9 W/m2 under solar-simulated radiation with an intensity of 23.95 mW/cm2 over the spectral region from 360 to 1000 nm. Assuming a mean daily insolation of 5 kWh/m2, the dye in the single-panel LSC modules can generate ~100 kWh/m2 annually. If the surface area of a building is comparable to its floor space, thermal energy generated from LSCs on the buildings surface could be used to substantially reduce the buildings energy consumption.
Highlights
Replacing fossil fuel energy sources with renewables to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is of dire need to reduce the impacts of climate change on future generations
Newton’s law of cooling was applied to determine the cooling constant and thermal power generated at the edge of Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) modules
KWh/m2 of thermal energy could be generated annually by the dye within the LSC modules tested in this work
Summary
Replacing fossil fuel energy sources with renewables to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is of dire need to reduce the impacts of climate change on future generations. A portion of the photons entering the waveguide are absorbed by the dye molecules which subsequently emit another photon, at a slightly lower energy, in a random direction. When an incident photon is absorbed by a dye molecule within an LSC there is a chance that the dye will emit a second photon in a random direction. Photons emitted by the dye in a direction normal to the surfaces of the LSC have a high probability of exiting the host medium. Emitted photons that are internally reflected at the surfaces of the LSC propagate towards its sidewalls where their energy can be harvested. Energy losses may occur as these photons propagate towards the LSC sidewalls because there is a chance they may be absorbed by other dye molecules, or by the host matrix. The methods used to measure the amount of thermal energy that the dye in the LSC can generate at the aluminum frame for an LSC are discussed subsequently
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