Optimum Design of Dye-Sensitized Solar Module for Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Systems:

Abstract

This paper presents a method for determining the optimum active-area width (OAW) of solar cells in a module architecture. The current density-voltage curve of a reference cell with a narrow active-area width is used to reproduce the current density profile in the test cell whose active area width is to be optimized. We obtained self-consistent current density and electric potential profiles from iterative calculations of both properties, considering the distributed resistance of the contact layers. Further, we determined the OAW that yields the maximum efficiency by calculating efficiency as a function of the active-area width. The proposed method can be applied to the design of the active area of a dye-sensitized solar cell in Z-type series connection modules for indoor and building-integrated photovoltaic systems. Our calculations predicted that OAW increases as the sheet resistances of the contact layers and the intensity of light decrease.