The potential for increasing the efficiency of solar cells in hybrid photovoltaic/thermal concentrating systems by using beam splitting

Abstract

Abstract The potential of spectrally selective beam splitters (SSBS) in separating concentrated solar irradiation into specific regions matched to hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/TH) concentrating systems is examined. Both interference filters and liquid absorption filters are investigated for use as SSBS. The performance benefit of this approach is demonstrated through a simplified calculation method suitable for hand or spreadsheet analysis. Initial performance analysis shows difinite advantages to the use of SSBS in hybrid PV/TH concentrating systems. A silicon solar cell having an efficiency of 11% under 50 suns of solar radiation would have as high as 27% efficiency when an SSBS is used. In addition to the higher PV efficiency, a generous amount of high grade thermal energy is also generated.