Solar Concentrator Bio-Inspired by the Superposition Compound Eye for High-Concentration Photovoltaic System up to Thousands Fold Factor
We have proposed a fruitful design principle targeting a concentration ratio (CR) >1000× for a typical high concentrating photovoltaics (HCPV) system, on account of a two-concentrator system + homogenizer. The principle of a primary dual-lens concentrator unit, completely analogous basic optics s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/9/3406 |
| _version_ | 1797504950609117184 |
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| author | Duc Tu Vu Ngoc Minh Kieu Tran Quoc Tien Thanh Phuong Nguyen Hoang Vu Seoyong Shin Ngoc Hai Vu |
| author_facet | Duc Tu Vu Ngoc Minh Kieu Tran Quoc Tien Thanh Phuong Nguyen Hoang Vu Seoyong Shin Ngoc Hai Vu |
| author_sort | Duc Tu Vu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We have proposed a fruitful design principle targeting a concentration ratio (CR) >1000× for a typical high concentrating photovoltaics (HCPV) system, on account of a two-concentrator system + homogenizer. The principle of a primary dual-lens concentrator unit, completely analogous basic optics seen in the superposition compound eyes, is a trend not hitherto reported for solar concentrators to our knowledge. Such a concentrator unit, consisting of two aspherical lenses, can be applied to minify the sunlight and reveal useful effects. We underline that, at this stage, the CR can be attained by two orders of magnitude simply by varying the radius ratio of such two lenses known from the optics side. The output beam is spatially minimized and nearly parallel, exactly as occurs in the superposition compound eye. In our scheme, thanks to such an array of dual-lens design, a sequence of equidistant focal points is formed. The secondary concentrator consists of a multi-reflective channel, which can collect all concentrated beams from the primary concentrator to a small area where a solar cell is placed. The secondary concentrator is located right underneath the primary concentrator. The optical characteristics are substantiated by optical simulations that confirm the applicability of thousands-fold gain in CR value, ~1100×. This, however, also reduced the uniformity of the illumination area. To regain the uniformity, we devise a fully new homogenizer, hinging on the scattering principle. A calculated optical efficiency for the entire system is ~75%. Experimentally, a prototype of such a dual-lens concentrator is implemented to evaluate the converging features. As a final note, we mention that the approach may be extended to implement an even higher CR, be it simply by taking an extra concentrator unit. With simple design of the concentrator part, which may allow the fabrication process by modeling method and large acceptant angle (0.6°), we assess its large potential as part of a general strategy to implement a highly efficient CPV system, with minimal critical elaboration steps and large flexibility. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:11:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe60b12c5cc7423e94a887339cf2c901 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:11:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe60b12c5cc7423e94a887339cf2c9012023-11-23T08:10:48ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-05-01159340610.3390/en15093406Solar Concentrator Bio-Inspired by the Superposition Compound Eye for High-Concentration Photovoltaic System up to Thousands Fold FactorDuc Tu Vu0Ngoc Minh Kieu1Tran Quoc Tien2Thanh Phuong Nguyen3Hoang Vu4Seoyong Shin5Ngoc Hai Vu6Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Phenikaa University, Yen Nghia, Ha Dong, Hanoi 12116, VietnamInstitute of Material Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi 11355, VietnamInstitute of Material Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi 11355, VietnamSchool of Engineering Physics, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, No. 1 Dai Co Viet, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi 11657, VietnamDepartment of Information and Communication Engineering, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-ro, Cheoin-gu, Yongin 17058, Gyeonggi-do, KoreaDepartment of Information and Communication Engineering, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-ro, Cheoin-gu, Yongin 17058, Gyeonggi-do, KoreaFaculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Phenikaa University, Yen Nghia, Ha Dong, Hanoi 12116, VietnamWe have proposed a fruitful design principle targeting a concentration ratio (CR) >1000× for a typical high concentrating photovoltaics (HCPV) system, on account of a two-concentrator system + homogenizer. The principle of a primary dual-lens concentrator unit, completely analogous basic optics seen in the superposition compound eyes, is a trend not hitherto reported for solar concentrators to our knowledge. Such a concentrator unit, consisting of two aspherical lenses, can be applied to minify the sunlight and reveal useful effects. We underline that, at this stage, the CR can be attained by two orders of magnitude simply by varying the radius ratio of such two lenses known from the optics side. The output beam is spatially minimized and nearly parallel, exactly as occurs in the superposition compound eye. In our scheme, thanks to such an array of dual-lens design, a sequence of equidistant focal points is formed. The secondary concentrator consists of a multi-reflective channel, which can collect all concentrated beams from the primary concentrator to a small area where a solar cell is placed. The secondary concentrator is located right underneath the primary concentrator. The optical characteristics are substantiated by optical simulations that confirm the applicability of thousands-fold gain in CR value, ~1100×. This, however, also reduced the uniformity of the illumination area. To regain the uniformity, we devise a fully new homogenizer, hinging on the scattering principle. A calculated optical efficiency for the entire system is ~75%. Experimentally, a prototype of such a dual-lens concentrator is implemented to evaluate the converging features. As a final note, we mention that the approach may be extended to implement an even higher CR, be it simply by taking an extra concentrator unit. With simple design of the concentrator part, which may allow the fabrication process by modeling method and large acceptant angle (0.6°), we assess its large potential as part of a general strategy to implement a highly efficient CPV system, with minimal critical elaboration steps and large flexibility.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/9/3406high CPV systemhigh concentration ratiosolar concentratorbioinspired optical componentshomogenizer |
| spellingShingle | Duc Tu Vu Ngoc Minh Kieu Tran Quoc Tien Thanh Phuong Nguyen Hoang Vu Seoyong Shin Ngoc Hai Vu Solar Concentrator Bio-Inspired by the Superposition Compound Eye for High-Concentration Photovoltaic System up to Thousands Fold Factor Energies high CPV system high concentration ratio solar concentrator bioinspired optical components homogenizer |
| title | Solar Concentrator Bio-Inspired by the Superposition Compound Eye for High-Concentration Photovoltaic System up to Thousands Fold Factor |
| title_full | Solar Concentrator Bio-Inspired by the Superposition Compound Eye for High-Concentration Photovoltaic System up to Thousands Fold Factor |
| title_fullStr | Solar Concentrator Bio-Inspired by the Superposition Compound Eye for High-Concentration Photovoltaic System up to Thousands Fold Factor |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solar Concentrator Bio-Inspired by the Superposition Compound Eye for High-Concentration Photovoltaic System up to Thousands Fold Factor |
| title_short | Solar Concentrator Bio-Inspired by the Superposition Compound Eye for High-Concentration Photovoltaic System up to Thousands Fold Factor |
| title_sort | solar concentrator bio inspired by the superposition compound eye for high concentration photovoltaic system up to thousands fold factor |
| topic | high CPV system high concentration ratio solar concentrator bioinspired optical components homogenizer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/9/3406 |
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