Optimisation of an asymmetric static concentrator: The PEC-44D

Abstract

In this paper, the optimisation of the PV static concentrator module PEC-44D for constant demand during the year is presented. The method used is based on simulation of the system performance during 10 years and the set of concentrator parameters that produces the lowest cost of the PV array is determined. We find that the optimised PEC-44D module can be 38% cheaper than a standard module. Experimental results were obtained for a prototype of the optimised PEC-44D to validate the theoretical analysis of the behaviour of the concentrator. We conclude that the daily irradiation measured on the cells correlates well with calculated values, and that the operating temperature of the bifacial cells in this static concentrator is slightly lower than that of the monofacial cells in a standard module.