Concentrator Photovoltaic Module Laser Alignment Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concentrator photovoltaic modules suffer from energy waste due to the need for an optically inactive region on the concentrating lens, which prevents sunlight from being reflected onto the solar cells, reducing the efficiency of solar energy utilization.
Innovation Solution
An alignment device and method using a laser source disposed at a tilt angle to perform optical alignment between the circuit board and the concentrating lens, eliminating the need for an optically inactive region by ensuring the light is focused directly onto the solar cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an optically inactive region is disposed on the concentrating lens to perform optical alignment, then the alignment between the circuit board and concentrating lens can be achieved, but the incident sunlight on the optically inactive region cannot be reflected to the solar cells, resulting in waste of solar energy
Solution Approach 1:
A laser source is introduced as an intermediary tool to perform optical alignment. The laser source emits a laser beam that serves as a reference for alignment, allowing the optical axis of the concentrating lens to be precisely aligned with the optical alignment point on the circuit board without requiring an optically inactive region on the lens itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment method uses a laser beam to create a virtual optical path that copies the desired light path. By aligning the laser beam with the optical axis of the concentrating lens and ensuring it passes through the optical alignment point, the actual sunlight path is replicated without needing to leave any region on the lens inactive.
2Ease of manufacture
If the length of concentrating lens is reduced to match the length of photovoltaic module frame top, then the manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but the optical alignment becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Optical alignment is performed preliminarily during the assembly process using the laser source before the module is put into operation. The laser alignment device is used to pre-align the concentrating lens with the circuit board, ensuring that the optical axis passes through the optical alignment point. This preliminary alignment action ensures precise optical performance even with reduced lens length.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the utilization of sunlight, increasing the output power efficiency of the photovoltaic module by concentrating all incident light onto the solar cells without wasting any energy in inactive regions.
Implementation Method 1
a laser source is disposed on a top surface at a tilt angle
Implementation Method 2
Considering deflection occurs when the light passes through the concentrating lens
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a concentrator photovoltaic module and the alignment device and method thereof. A laser source is disposed on a top surface of an alignment device at a tilt angle. According to the optical alignment points on a circuit board, the circuit board and the concentrating lens can be aligned and thus completing assembling a concentrator photovoltaic module. The alignment device and method for concentrator photovoltaic module requires no optically inactive region to complete alignment. Thereby, the utilization of the sunlight and the output power efficiency of the concentrator photovoltaic module can be enhanced.