Design, manufacturing and measurement of a PV miniconcentrator for front point-contact silicon solar cells

D. Pérez; J. C. Miñano; P. Benítez; F. Muñoz; R. Mohedano

doi:10.1117/12.626140

3 September 2005 Design, manufacturing and measurement of a PV miniconcentrator for front point-contact silicon solar cells

D. Pérez, J. C. Miñano, P. Benítez, F. Muñoz, R. Mohedano

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5942, Nonimaging Optics and Efficient Illumination Systems II; 59420R (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.626140
Event: Optics and Photonics 2005, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

A novel photovoltaic concentrator has been developed in the framework of the European project "High efficiency silicon solar cells concentrator". In this project, front-contacted silicon solar cell have also been designed and manufactured by the project leader (the French LETI). This silicon cell concept is potentially capable to perform well (24% efficiency has been predicted) for much higher concentration levels than the back-contacted cells (and, of course, than the two-side contacted cells). The concentrator is formed by one lens of squared contour with flat entry surface and large-facet Fresnel exit surface, and a secondary that encapsulates the solar cell. On the contrary to the conventional Fresnel lens plus nonimaging secondary concentrators, the primary and secondary are designed simultaneously, leading to better concentration-acceptance angle product without compromise with the compactness. The grid lines in the front-contacted cells are aluminium prisms (which contact the p+ and n+ emitters, alternatively), acting as a linear cone concentrator that concentrates Cg =1.52× in the cross sectional dimension of the prisms. The secondary concentrator has a refractive rotational symmetric top surface that is crossed with two linear flow-line TIR mirror. Then, in the cross section normal to the aluminium prisms, the secondary provides a 2D concentration of Cg =12×, while in the cross section parallel to the prisms it provides a 2D concentration of Cg =24.16× as the grid lines in this dimension. Therefore, the cell is rectangular (1:2.08 aspect ratio), being the grid lines parallel to the shorter rectangle side. The total 3D geometrical concentration is 24.16×(12×1.52) = 455× for the square aperture and rectangular cell, and gets a design acceptance angle α=±1.8 degrees. Injection moulded prototypes are have been manufactured and measured, proving an optical efficiency of 79%. Computer modelling of the concentrator performance will also be presented.

Citation Download Citation

D. Pérez, J. C. Miñano, P. Benítez, F. Muñoz, and R. Mohedano "Design, manufacturing and measurement of a PV miniconcentrator for front point-contact silicon solar cells", Proc. SPIE 5942, Nonimaging Optics and Efficient Illumination Systems II, 59420R (3 September 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.626140

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