Experimental and optical performances of a solar CPV device using a linear Fresnel reflector concentrator

Abstract A solar CPV device using a linear Fresnel reflector (LFR) concentrator is described. The design principle of the concentrator is provided. The solar concentrating processes are simulated by using the MCRT approach. A small scale test rig of the concentrator is constructed to investigate the actual optical and I–V performances of the CPV device. Both of the simulation and experimental results reveal that the proposed concentrator has a relatively high solar concentrating uniformity. The configuration and optical analyses of the concentrator are launched. The results show that the geometric concentrating ratio and ground utilization ratio both increase with the solar panel installing height increased. When the solar cell height is settled, the maximum value of ground utilization ratio exists with the mirror field width increased. The sun-tracking accuracy effect analysis is also carried out. The results indicate that the normalized optical efficiency of the CPV system using the LFR concentrator can be 0.62 or higher when the tracking error is less than 1°. A solar cell monomer and a cell module are used to carry out the I–V experiments. The test results of their energy conversion efficiencies are 14.7% and 13.6%, respectively.