High performance concentrating photovoltaic module designs employing reflective lens optics

Abstract

The present study is aimed at advancing the optical component as well as optimizing the design of concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) modules in order to increase the conversion efficiency and improve the utility of CPV while obtaining the prescribed concentration ratio. In this work, we turn to non-traditional concentrating optics, namely Reflective Lenses™ (RL), first introduced in early 2000s. The optical configuration of RLs is unique since it combines the very low F/D number (hence resulting in a very low profile of the unit) of mirrors with a rear-focus of lenses and uses only a single-stage reflection. A liner-focus version of RLs, the Slat-Array Concentrator (SAC), is a capable alternative to the parabolic troughs for mid-concentration CPV. A point-focus version called the Ring-Array Concentrator (RAC) is deemed suitable for high concentration photovoltaics. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.