XRX-Kóhler optical design and illumination optimization

Blake Coughenour, Roger Angel

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This paper describes the optical and illumination design of a CPV solar energy system. The challenges of creating a highly efficient yet low-cost system architecture come from many sources, but are primarily limited by the photoelectron conversion efficiency of the cells and the illumination performance of the system for on-axis and off-axis pointing scenarios. Furthermore, the need for high solar spectral throughput, evenly concentrated sunlight, and tolerance to offaxis pointing places strict illumination requirements on the optical design. To be commercially viable, the cost associated with all components must be minimized so that when taken together, the absolute installed cost of the system in kWh is lower than any other solar energy method. We present two low-cost optical design embodiments of a dishbased concentration photovoltaic (CPV) system that utilize Kóhler illumination to achieve good illumination uniformity across an array of solar cells. Further optimization for active shadowing compensation and compound electrical I-V curve modeling for the solar cell array is performed that allows realistic off-axis performance scenarios to be modeled with the correct power response sensitivity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationInternational Optical Design Conference 2014
EditorsMariana Figueiro, Julius Muschaweck, Scott Lerner, John Rogers
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781628413786
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
EventInternational Optical Design Conference 2014, IODC 2014 - Kohala Coast, United States
Duration: Jun 23 2014Jun 26 2014

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9293
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Other

OtherInternational Optical Design Conference 2014, IODC 2014
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityKohala Coast
Period6/23/146/26/14

Keywords

  • CPV
  • Concentrators
  • Illumination design
  • Kóhler illumination
  • Non-imaging optics
  • Photovoltaics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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