Off-Axis Fresnel Solar Concentrator for Smaller PV Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost of solar energy conversion systems due to the expensive nature of crystalline silicon-based solar cells, which limits the cost-effectiveness of increasing electrical energy production through larger cell sizes and incurs higher transportation costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of a solar concentrator with an off-axis Fresnel lens configuration, comprising cylindrical, spherical, and unpatterned sections, which directs sunlight to a smaller solar cell, reducing the required surface area of silicon and enabling efficient energy conversion at various angles, thereby reducing the overall cost and size of the solar cell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the size of solar cell is increased to produce more electrical energy, then the electrical energy output is improved, but the cost increases due to expensive crystalline silicon material
Solution Approach 1:
The solar concentrator lens is divided into multiple sections (on-axis section, off-axis sections, spherical sections) that each handle different angular ranges of sunlight. This segmentation allows the system to capture sunlight from various angles and concentrate it onto a smaller solar cell, reducing the amount of expensive crystalline silicon needed while maintaining electrical energy output.
Solution Approach 2:
The solar concentrator lens acts as an intermediary between sunlight and the solar cell. It captures and concentrates solar energy before delivering it to the smaller solar cell, enabling the system to generate the same electrical energy with less silicon material by improving the energy density delivered to the cell.
2Productivity
If the size of solar cell is increased to produce more electrical energy, then the electrical energy output is improved, but the transportation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the lens into multiple functional sections that work together to concentrate sunlight onto a smaller solar cell, the system reduces the size and weight of the solar cell required for a given energy output, thereby reducing transportation costs while maintaining productivity.
3Device complexity
If a conventional on-axis lens is used, then the structure is simple, but the sunlight cannot be effectively concentrated at various angles
Solution Approach 1:
The lens design incorporates asymmetric off-axis sections with different focal lengths and orientations, allowing the lens to effectively concentrate sunlight from various angles including oblique angles. This asymmetric design improves sunlight concentration efficiency across different solar positions while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens incorporates spherical sections in addition to cylindrical sections, utilizing curved surfaces to better focus sunlight from various angles. The combination of cylindrical and spherical curvatures enables effective concentration of sunlight across a wider angular range compared to a simple on-axis cylindrical lens.
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 allows for a more cost-effective solar energy conversion system by utilizing a smaller solar cell with improved efficiency, reducing silicon usage and transportation costs while maintaining performance across different solar altitudes and angles of sunlight projection.
Implementation Method 1
The solar concentrator comprises a lens, which includes at least one line focus section comprising an off-axis configuration, at least one spherical section comprising an off-axis configuration adjacent to the line focus section
Implementation Method 2
a solar cell adapted to receive solar energy and convert the solar energy into electrical energy
Data Source
AI summary
An energy conversion system comprises a solar cell adapted to receive solar energy and convert the solar energy into electrical energy. The energy conversion system also comprises a solar concentrator adapted to receive solar energy and direct the solar energy to the solar cell. The solar concentrator has a lens that comprises at least one line focus section comprising an off-axis configuration, at least one spherical section adjacent to the at least one line focus section, the at least one spherical section comprising an off-axis configuration, and an unpatterned section adjacent to the at least one line focus section and the at least one spherical section.