Stimulated-Emission Light-Guide Solar Concentrators for Higher Flux
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current luminescent solar concentrators face limitations in achieving high light concentration due to absorption within the glass and re-absorption by luminescent particles, resulting in lower concentration factors compared to Concentrated Photovoltaics, and require more photovoltaic material, making them less cost-effective for widespread commercial use.
Innovation Solution
The use of stimulated emission luminescent light-guide solar concentrators, where luminescent particles are excited to emit light in a prescribed direction using a narrow band light source, such as a light-emitting diode, to intensify the pump light and guide it via total internal reflection to a light collection area, allowing for higher concentration and potentially infinite concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional luminescent particles are used to absorb and emit light in random directions, then the device structure is simple, but the light concentration factor is limited to around 150 suns due to absorption and re-absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the emission parameter from random isotropic emission to directional stimulated emission by introducing a laser pump source. This transforms the emission characteristics of luminescent particles from spontaneous to stimulated emission, enabling high concentration factors while maintaining a relatively simple planar device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a laser pump source as an intermediary to mediate between the luminescent particles and the light collection system. The pump laser provides the stimulating photons that trigger directional emission, acting as a bridge that enables controlled light concentration without requiring complex optical elements
2Length of stationary object
If luminescent particles emit light in random directions, then no additional optical components are needed, but the practical optical path length is limited by absorption within the glass
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the emission direction parameter from random to controlled directional emission. This allows the optical path to be extended significantly because stimulated emission photons travel in the same direction as the pump laser, reducing the number of absorption events and enabling longer optical paths through the luminescent layer
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes continuous useful action by having the pump laser continuously stimulate luminescent particles along the optical path. The stimulated emission process maintains photon coherence and directionality throughout the extended path, ensuring that useful light concentration action continues without significant energy loss from random emission
3Quantity of substance
If high concentration is achieved using conventional luminescent concentrators, then photovoltaic material cost is reduced, but more photovoltaic material is still required compared to CPV systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter from limited spontaneous emission concentration to high stimulated emission concentration. By using laser pumping to induce directional stimulated emission, the system achieves concentration factors that can exceed conventional luminescent concentrators, thereby reducing the required photovoltaic material quantity further
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 enables light concentration to orders of magnitude greater than conventional luminescent solar concentrators, overcoming absorption and re-absorption limitations, and can achieve high concentration factors without the need for trackers, potentially reducing the cost of solar energy production.
Implementation Method 1
luminescent particles are capable of being stimulated to emit luminescent light... when the pump light traveling in a first direction of travel stimulates the at least one of the luminescent particles having absorbed solar light the at least one of the luminescent particles emits luminescent light at the at least first emission frequency in the first direction of travel of the pump light, intensifying the pump light
Implementation Method 2
The first light-guide is for assisting in guiding the intensified pump light via total internal reflection to a light collection area
Implementation Method 3
Luminescent particles absorb light over a wide band of frequencies and emit light at lower frequencies over a narrower band
Data Source
AI summary
A solar concentrator comprising: A luminescent layer having luminescent particles capable of becoming excited by absorbing solar light of a first absorption frequency and, once excited, being capable of being stimulated to emit luminescent light at a first emission frequency. A light source for generating a pump light of the first emission frequency for stimulating the excited luminescent particles having absorbed solar light such that when the pump light traveling in a direction of travel stimulates the luminescent particles having absorbed solar light at the first absorption frequency the luminescent particles emit luminescent light at the first emission frequency in the direction of travel of the pump light, intensifying the pump light. A light guide adjacent to and optically coupled with the luminescent layer, the light-guide for assisting in guiding the intensified pump light via total internal reflection to a light collection area.