Waveguide solar concentrator design with spectrally separated light. (15th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Michel, Céline; Blain, Pascal; Clermont, Lionel; Languy, Fabian; Lenaerts, Cédric; Fleury-Frenette, Karl; Décultot, Marc; Habraken, Serge; Vandormael, Denis; Cloots, Rudi; Thalluri, Gopala Krishna V.V.; Henrist, Catherine; Colson, Pierre; Loicq, Jérôme
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 157(2017)
• Page Start: 1005
• Page End: 1016
• Publication Date: 2017-11-15
• Subjects: Solar concentrator -- Light splitting -- Waveguiding -- Nonimaging optics -- Fresnel lens -- Diffraction grating; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2017.09.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Highlights: Design of a solar concentrator with light splitting and waveguiding is proposed. Light spectral spreading is achieved with a Fresnel lens/blazed diffraction grating combination. Microstructures on waveguide select light spectra to be guided towards two spectrally adapted cells. Optical design: modeling and optimization processes are presented. Manufacturing and testing of an experimental prototype is exposed. Abstract: In this article, we propose a new solar concentrator based on spectral splitting of sunlight. Spectral splitting has the objective to collect different spectra onto spectrally adapted solar cells for a more efficient use of the Sun's spectrum. Its combination with solar concentration makes an alternative to classical technologies. The proposed concentrator is composed of a diffractive/refractive optical element that spectrally splits and focuses the light onto a waveguide. The light is then conducted by total internal reflection towards the two specific solar cells. The optical concept and optimization of each element is presented in this paper. An adaptation for dye sensitized solar cells is performed. A geometrical factor around 5 × is reached. Finally, theoretical optical efficiency, the manufacturing process and experimental testing with a collimated Sun simulator are presented.