IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v11y2018i1p114-d125271.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Flat Concentrator Photovoltaic System with Lateral Displacement Tracking for Residential Rooftops

Author

Listed:
  • Ngoc Hai Vu

    (Department of Information and Communication Engineering, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-ro, Cheoin-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do 17058, Korea)

  • Seoyong Shin

    (Department of Information and Communication Engineering, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-ro, Cheoin-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do 17058, Korea)

Abstract

We present a design for a flat concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) system that requires only lateral displacement for sun-tracking, intended for residential rooftop applications. Compared with flat-plate photovoltaics (PVs), CPV technology is essential for reducing the use of semi-conductor materials, which also enables cheaper solar power generation. Existing CPV designs are more bulky and complex than traditional PV panel techniques and are therefore better suited to solar farms than rooftop use. In this study, we explore an alternate approach, employing a mirror-coated lenslet array, to demonstrate a flat CPV system for rooftop installation. This mirror-coated lenslet array collects solar radiation and concentrates it with a very short focal length. The lateral movement of lenslet focal points according to a changing incident angle of sunlight allows for the use of a lateral displacement tracking mechanism. A square array of solar cells integrated on a transparent sheet is placed on top of a mirror-coated lenslet array to collect focused sunlight and convert it to electricity. The proposed CPV panel can be achieved with a 35 mm thickness. Simulation models were developed using commercial optical design software (LightTools). The simulation demonstrates an optical efficiency of up to 89.5% when the concentration ratio of the system is fixed to 50×. The simplicity of the structure enables cheaper mass production. Our quest for a lateral displacement sun-tracking mechanism also shows that the system has a high tolerance, thereby enabling cost savings by replacing a highly precise, active sun-tracking system with a lower-accuracy system. The presented flat CPV is a strong candidate for a low-cost, high-efficiency solar energy system that can be installed on the rooftops of residential buildings to deliver energy savings.

Suggested Citation

  • Ngoc Hai Vu & Seoyong Shin, 2018. "Flat Concentrator Photovoltaic System with Lateral Displacement Tracking for Residential Rooftops," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:1:p:114-:d:125271
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/1/114/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/1/114/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jared S. Price & Xing Sheng & Bram M. Meulblok & John A. Rogers & Noel C. Giebink, 2015. "Wide-angle planar microtracking for quasi-static microcell concentrating photovoltaics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-8, May.
    2. Ngoc Hai Vu & Seoyong Shin, 2016. "A Large Scale Daylighting System Based on a Stepped Thickness Waveguide," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-15, January.
    3. Mojiri, Ahmad & Taylor, Robert & Thomsen, Elizabeth & Rosengarten, Gary, 2013. "Spectral beam splitting for efficient conversion of solar energy—A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 654-663.
    4. Ngoc Hai Vu & Seoyong Shin, 2016. "A Concentrator Photovoltaic System Based on a Combination of Prism-Compound Parabolic Concentrators," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-13, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Diane Palmer & Elena Koumpli & Ian Cole & Ralph Gottschalg & Thomas Betts, 2018. "A GIS-Based Method for Identification of Wide Area Rooftop Suitability for Minimum Size PV Systems Using LiDAR Data and Photogrammetry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-22, December.
    2. Masakazu Nakatani & Noboru Yamada, 2019. "Characterization of Core-Shell Spherical Lens for Microtracking Concentrator Photovoltaic System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-15, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ngoc Hai Vu & Thanh Tuan Pham & Seoyong Shin, 2020. "Large Scale Spectral Splitting Concentrator Photovoltaic System Based on Double Flat Waveguides," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, May.
    2. Ngoc Hai Vu & Seoyong Shin, 2017. "Flat Optical Fiber Daylighting System with Lateral Displacement Sun-Tracking Mechanism for Indoor Lighting," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-13, October.
    3. Daria Freier & Firdaus Muhammad-Sukki & Siti Hawa Abu-Bakar & Roberto Ramirez-Iniguez & Abu Bakar Munir & Siti Hajar Mohd Yasin & Nurul Aini Bani & Abdullahi Abubakar Mas’ud & Jorge Alfredo Ardila-Rey, 2018. "Annual Prediction Output of an RADTIRC-PV Module," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, March.
    4. Xu, Jintao & Chen, Fei & Xia, Entong & Gao, Chong & Deng, Chenggang, 2020. "An optimization design method and optical performance analysis on multi-sectioned compound parabolic concentrator with cylindrical absorber," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    5. Mojiri, Ahmad & Stanley, Cameron & Rodriguez-Sanchez, David & Everett, Vernie & Blakers, Andrew & Rosengarten, Gary, 2016. "A spectral-splitting PV–thermal volumetric solar receiver," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 63-71.
    6. Freier, Daria & Ramirez-Iniguez, Roberto & Jafry, Tahseen & Muhammad-Sukki, Firdaus & Gamio, Carlos, 2018. "A review of optical concentrators for portable solar photovoltaic systems for developing countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 957-968.
    7. Wu, Jinshun & Zhang, Xingxing & Shen, Jingchun & Wu, Yupeng & Connelly, Karen & Yang, Tong & Tang, Llewellyn & Xiao, Manxuan & Wei, Yixuan & Jiang, Ke & Chen, Chao & Xu, Peng & Wang, Hong, 2017. "A review of thermal absorbers and their integration methods for the combined solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) modules," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 839-854.
    8. Li, Qiyuan & Shirazi, Ali & Zheng, Cheng & Rosengarten, Gary & Scott, Jason A. & Taylor, Robert A., 2016. "Energy concentration limits in solar thermal heating applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 253-267.
    9. Ju, Xing & Abd El-Samie, Mostafa M. & Xu, Chao & Yu, Hangyu & Pan, Xinyu & Yang, Yongping, 2020. "A fully coupled numerical simulation of a hybrid concentrated photovoltaic/thermal system that employs a therminol VP-1 based nanofluid as a spectral beam filter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    10. Pan, Hong-Yu & Chen, Xue & Xia, Xin-Lin, 2022. "A review on the evolvement of optical-frequency filtering in photonic devices in 2016–2021," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    11. Allen Jong-Woei Whang & Tsai-Hsien Yang & Zhong-Hao Deng & Yi-Yung Chen & Wei-Chieh Tseng & Chun-Han Chou, 2019. "A Review of Daylighting System: For Prototype Systems Performance and Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-34, July.
    12. Brekke, Nick & Dale, John & DeJarnette, Drew & Hari, Parameswar & Orosz, Matthew & Roberts, Kenneth & Tunkara, Ebrima & Otanicar, Todd, 2018. "Detailed performance model of a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal system utilizing selective spectral nanofluid absorption," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 683-693.
    13. Wang, Kai & Pantaleo, Antonio M. & Herrando, María & Faccia, Michele & Pesmazoglou, Ioannis & Franchetti, Benjamin M. & Markides, Christos N., 2020. "Spectral-splitting hybrid PV-thermal (PVT) systems for combined heat and power provision to dairy farms," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 1047-1065.
    14. Masakazu Nakatani & Noboru Yamada, 2019. "Characterization of Core-Shell Spherical Lens for Microtracking Concentrator Photovoltaic System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-15, September.
    15. Han, Xinyue & Xue, Dengshuai & Zheng, Jun & Alelyani, Sami M. & Chen, Xiaobin, 2019. "Spectral characterization of spectrally selective liquid absorption filters and exploring their effects on concentrator solar cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 938-945.
    16. Yeh, Pulin & Yeh, Naichia, 2018. "Design and analysis of solar-tracking 2D Fresnel lens-based two staged, spectrum-splitting solar concentrators," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 1-13.
    17. Alois Resch & Robert Höller, 2021. "Electrical Efficiency Increase in CPVT Collectors by Spectral Splitting," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, December.
    18. Otanicar, Todd & Dale, John & Orosz, Matthew & Brekke, Nick & DeJarnette, Drew & Tunkara, Ebrima & Roberts, Kenneth & Harikumar, Parameswar, 2018. "Experimental evaluation of a prototype hybrid CPV/T system utilizing a nanoparticle fluid absorber at elevated temperatures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 1531-1539.
    19. Wang, Gang & Wang, Fasi & Shen, Fan & Chen, Zeshao & Hu, Peng, 2019. "Novel design and thermodynamic analysis of a solar concentration PV and thermal combined system based on compact linear Fresnel reflector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 133-148.
    20. Huang, Ju & Han, Xinyue & Zhao, Xiaobo & Meng, Chunfeng, 2021. "Facile preparation of core-shell Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles and their application in spectrally splitting PV/T systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(PA).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:1:p:114-:d:125271. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.