Improving Silicon Concentrator Solar Cells Performance by Dielectric Liquids Immersion

Abstract

Direct liquid immersion cooling of concentrator solar cells was proposed as a solution for receiver thermal management of concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) systems. This research investigates the electrical performance of silicon concentrator solar cells under concentration, which are in both the absence of the candidate immersion liquids and also within different thickness on top. The results show that the presence of thin liquid layers results in an increase in the silicon CPV solar cells efficiencies by 8.5-15.2% from the reference value, arising from a decrease in a part of the reflected radiation and a decrease in the velocity of the surface recombination from surface adsorption of polar molecules. With an increase in the thickness of the liquid layer, the degree of the improvements to the efficiencies of the cells decreases due to more incident light is absorbed by the thicker liquid layer, which also depends to a noticeable degree on the liquid species.