Optical characterisation of a PV concentrator under simulated and realistic solar conditions using an isolated cell PV module

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The optical characterisation of a photovoltaic (PV) concentrator has been carried out under an indoor solar simulator facility and outdoor, under realistic solar conditions. The concentrator is a line-axis symmetric Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) with a half acceptance angle of 30° and a geometrical concentration ratio after truncation of 1.96. Optical efficiency and solar flux distribution on the PV absorber have been determined for different angles of the incident solar radiation with the help of an isolated cell PV module. Both indoor and outdoor test results are compared to theoretically calculated values with the use of a ray trace technique. Optical efficiencies of up to 95% and 92% were measured outdoors and indoors respectively for incidence angles of solar radiation within the angular acceptance limits of the CPC. The measured optical efficiency both indoor and outdoor demonstrated a very good agreement with the ray trace results. The solar flux distributions on the PV absorber measured outdoor where found to be in very good agreement with the ray trace results for incidence angles of solar radiation up to 20°. The non-ideal light collimation of the multi-lamp solar simulator reduced the magnitude of the solar flux peaks on the PV absorber compared to those calculated by ray trace and measured outdoor.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUnknown Host Publication
Place of PublicationRijeka, Vukovarska 58, Croatia
PublisherInternational Solar Energy Society
Number of pages8
ISBN (Print)978-953-6886-20-3
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 2012
EventEuroSun 2012 - Rijeka
Duration: 1 Jan 2012 → …

Conference

ConferenceEuroSun 2012
Period1/01/12 → …

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Optical characterisation of a PV concentrator under simulated and realistic solar conditions using an isolated cell PV module'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this