The effect of four flat plate reflectors on light energy-harvesting system characteristics

Abstract

In this paper, the effect of four flat panel reflectors (bottom, top, left and right side reflectors) on the total light radiation on a small-size photovoltaic cell is analyzed. An analytical model for the determination of the optimum inclination angle of the reflectors with respect to the cell?s horizontal surface is presented. The optimal angle was calculated to be 66?. The calculated value was experimentally verified by measuring the short-circuit current of the cell. It was shown that the increase in the short-circuit current of the cell with reflectors in the optimal position was about 60% for the illumination levels between 10 lx and 1000 lx. The cell with reflectors was used to charge the primary capacitor in the energy harvesting circuitry of the wireless sensor node and it was demonstrated that the time needed for the cell to charge the primary capacitor could be reduced 35-40%.