A New Hybrid Algorithm Using Thermodynamic and Backward Ray-Tracing Approaches for Modeling Luminescent Solar Concentrators

Abstract

A Luminescent Solar Concentrator (LSC) is a transparent plate containing luminescent material with photovoltaic (PV) cells attached to its edges. Sunlight entering the plate is absorbed by the luminescent material, which in turn emits light. The emitted light propagates through the plate and arrives at the PV cells through total internal reflection. The ratio of the area of the relatively cheap polymer plate to that of the expensive PV cells is increased, and the cost per unit of solar electricity can be reduced by 75%. To improve the emission performance of LSCs, simulation modeling of LSCs becomes essential. Ray-tracing modeling is a popular approach for simulating LSCs due to its great ability of modeling various LSC structures under direct and diffuse sunlight. However, this approach requires substantial amount of measurement input data. Also, the simulation time is enormous because it is a forward-ray tracing method that traces all the rays propagating from the light source to the concentrator. On the other hand, the thermodynamic approach requires substantially less input parameters and simulation time, but it can only be used to model simple LSC designs with direct sunlight. Therefore, a new hybrid model was developed to perform various simulation studies effectively without facing the issues arisen from the existing ray-tracing and thermodynamic models. The simulation results show that at least 60% of the total output irradiance of a LSC is contributed by the light trapped and channeled by the LSC. The novelty of this hybrid model is the concept of integrating the thermodynamic model with a well-developed OPEN ACCESSEnergies 2010, 3 1832Radiance ray-tracing model, hence making this model as a fast, powerful and cost-effective tool for the design of LSCs.

Optical Properties, Synthesis, and Potential Applications of Cu-Based Ternary or Quaternary Anisotropic Quantum Dots, Polytypic Nanocrystals, and Core/Shell Heterostructures

“…There are a number of reports of Cd-based nano-TP structures [164]. Unfortunately, as with other Cd based structures, the presence of highly toxic heavy metals greatly impedes the practical application of these nanomaterials, so obtaining its Cu-based counterparts is imperative.…”

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“…Part of the light striking the internal surface at very steep angles manages to escape the structure through escape cone of total internal reflection. Source: [46].…”

“…An important group of MOs possesses these properties, the most popular studied materials and their dopants are gathered in Table 2. Source: Authors', based on [46].…”

Annual Prediction Output of an RADTIRC-PV Module

“…When coupled with gallium arsenide (GaAS) solar cells, their LSC design achieved an electrical conversion efficiency of 7.1%. Lo et al [47] created a new algorithm to evaluate the performance of an LSC and concluded that their new method is "a fast, powerful and cost-effective tool" to design any LSC. Pei et al [48] showed that the optical efficiency of a dielectric CPC can be improved by introducing a mirror coating on the sides of the concentrator, as high as 13.5%.…”