Solar Light Guide Module Using Lens Arrays and Total Internal Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high manufacturing cost and power generation cost of solar cells, particularly those made from III-V compound semiconductor materials, limit their widespread application due to the need for large solar collector areas, which complicates their use and increases installation inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A focusing solar light guide module comprising a lens array plate and a light guide plate with microstructures that focus and guide sunlight through total internal reflection, allowing energy conversion devices to efficiently convert sunlight into electric power without the need for extensive solar collector areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If solar cells made of III-V compound semiconductor material are used to achieve high photoelectric conversion efficiency, then the photoelectric conversion efficiency is improved (up to 60-70%), but the manufacturing cost and power generation cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The solar collector system is segmented into two functional components: a lens array for light concentration and a light guide plate for light distribution. This segmentation allows the expensive III-V compound semiconductor solar cell to be used only at the concentrated light reception point, rather than covering the entire collector area, thereby reducing material costs while maintaining high conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a planar solar cell configuration to a three-dimensional light guiding structure. By using the light guide plate to transport concentrated sunlight from the lens array to the solar cell, the system exploits the third dimension (depth/thickness of the light guide plate) to decouple the light collection area from the active conversion area, enabling cost-effective deployment of high-efficiency materials
2Ease of manufacture
If solar collector area is reduced to decrease power generation cost, then the cost is reduced, but application convenience decreases and installation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural support for the lens array, a light transport medium via total internal reflection, and a distribution network that delivers concentrated light to the solar cell. This multi-functionality simplifies the overall system design and installation while reducing the required solar collector area
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate acts as an intermediary component between the lens array and the solar cell. It mediates the light transmission process by capturing focused sunlight from the lens array and guiding it to the solar cell through total internal reflection, enabling the system to function with a reduced collector area without compromising performance
3Ease of manufacture
If lens array plate and light guide plate with microstructures are used to focus and guide sunlight, then sunlight concentration is improved and solar cell usage is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate features localized microstructures (depressed areas with inclined planes) at specific positions to achieve light reflection and guidance. Rather than making the entire plate complex, only specific local regions contain microstructures, allowing the majority of the plate to remain simple and easy to manufacture while still achieving the desired light concentration effect
Solution Approach 2:
The depressed areas in the light guide plate incorporate curved surfaces (spheroidal or cylindrical depression shapes) that facilitate light reflection and guidance through geometric optics. These curved microstructures efficiently redirect light paths using total internal reflection, achieving effective light concentration without requiring complex mechanical or electronic control systems
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
The module effectively reduces the usage and cost of solar cells by concentrating sunlight onto small areas, maintaining high light guide efficiency without the need for a sun tracking system, thereby decreasing the overall power generation cost.
Implementation Method 1
The lens array plate receives and focuses the sunlight
Implementation Method 2
After being focused by the lens array plate, the sunlight is reflected twice by the depressed area and the connection area in sequence, and is guided into the light guide plate by the total internal reflection
Implementation Method 3
the crystalline silicon solar cell has photoelectric conversion efficiency of 12% to 20%
Data Source
AI summary
A focusing solar light guide module includes a lens array plate and a light guide plate. The lens array plate includes at least one lens. Each lens receiving and focusing a sunlight has an upper curved surface and a lower plane surface. The light guide plate has an upper plane surface parallel to the lower plane surface of the lens array plate and a lower microstructure surface. The lower microstructure surface includes at least one depressed area and at least one connection area parallel to the upper plane surface of the light guide plate. The connection area is connected between the adjacent depressed areas having a depressed point, a first inclined plane and a second inclined plane. The first inclined plane and the second inclined plane are respectively connected between the depressed point and the adjacent connection area.