A two-dimensional finite element model of front surface current flow in cells under non-uniform, concentrated illumination

Mellor, A.; Domenech-Garret, J. L.; Chemisana, Daniel; Rosell, Joan

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2009.03.016

Cited by 44 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Based on above expression, Mellor et al [7], proposed a continuity equation to determine the effective current density distribution of the PV cell surface under non-uniform illumination conditions. This governing equation solved over the solar cell domain is represented by:…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In most cases, the illumination distribution in a concentrated system is in either a Gaussian or anti-Gaussian distribution. Mellor et al [7] proposed two dimensional finite element modelling (FEM) to simulate the front surface current flow in cells under non-uniform illumination and it explored new ideas for concentrated PV cell modelling. The simulation and experiment work done by Chemisana et al [8] analyzed the electrical performance increase of concentrator solar cells under Gaussian temperature profiles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Numerical Validation of a New Approach to Model Single Junction Low Concentration PV Cells under Non-Uniform Illumination

Zhou

Bottarelli

et al. 2015

Energies

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This study presents a numerical validation of a new approach to model single junction PV cell under non-uniform illumination for low-concentration solar collectors such as compound parabolic concentrators (CPC). The simulation is achieved by finite element modelling (FEM). To characterize the results, the model is simulated with five different non-uniform illumination profiles. The results indicate that increasing the non-uniformity of concentrated light will introduce more resistive losses and lead to a significant attenuation in the PV cell short-circuit current. The FEM modelling results are then used to validate the array modelling approach, in which a single junction PV cell is considered equivalent to a parallel-connected array of several cell splits. A comparison between the FEM and array modelling approaches shows good agreement. Therefore, the array modelling approach is a fast way to investigate the PV cell performance under non-uniform illumination, while the FEM approach is useful in optimizing design of fingers and bus-bars on a PV.

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Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Validation of a New Approach to Model Single Junction Low Concentration PV Cells under Non-Uniform Illumination

Zhou

Bottarelli

et al. 2015

Energies

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“…The nonuniformly illuminated cell may see irradiance peaks which are several times larger than a uniformly illuminated cell. Nonuniform effects have been studied using experimental [4,5] and modeling approaches [6,7,8]. Among the latter, it has been found that optimizing grid spacing can partially compensate for losses due to nonuniform illumination [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrating optical system optimization for 3- and 4-junction solar cells: impact of illumination profiles

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Optical component designs for concentrating photovoltaic systems with three different multijunction solar cells are optimized to yield maximum system efficiencies under standard test conditions, specifically uniform illumination. Optimization uses an integrated optoelectrical approach with ray tracing of the optical train to generate an irradiance profile for input to the cell's distributed circuit model. These cells, a three-junction lattice-matched (3JLM) solar cell, a three-junction lattice-mismatched inverted metamorphic (3JIMM) solar cell, and a four-junction lattice-matched (4JLM) solar cell, were individually designed for maximum efficiency at 1000X. The optical train introduces losses, modifies the spectrum, and produces a spatially nonuniform profile across the cell. We decouple spectral modification from spatial nonuniformity to separately determine their individual impacts on system efficiencies, finding the optimal set of optical design parameters for each case. Spectral modification yields modest loss penalties (from 1.0 to 1.6%, relative to the MJSC), but the impact of nonuniformity is more significant and cell dependent, with relative loss penalties of 1.1, 3.8 and 2.3%, for 3JLM, 3JIMM and 4JLM, respectively. While spectral modification does not significantly impact design parameters, spatial nonuniformity does, with absolute losses of 1 and 3.4% if 3JIMM and 4JLM cells are used in a 3JLM optimized system.

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“…C ONCENTRATION photovoltaic (CPV) systems generally exhibit a nonuniform illumination profile along the solar cells they integrate [1]- [4]. The light distribution in such profiles is defined by the design of the concentrator optics and is influenced by structure, optics, and tracking misalignments, which possibly occur during manufacturing/mounting processes or even during its lifetime [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Depending on the cooling system, the solar cells may present different temperature distributions which also affect the I-V curve differently [6]. The behavior of CPV solar cells operating under both illumination and temperature inhomogeneous profiles are only carelessly reproduced by traditional solar cell models which include an equivalent-lumped series resistance [2]- [4], as shown in Fig. 1(a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling the Effects of Inhomogeneous Irradiation and Temperature Profile on CPV Solar Cell Behavior

Reis

Guerreiro

Batista

et al. 2015

IEEE J. Photovoltaics

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Solar cells that integrate concentration photovoltaic systems are usually exposed to inhomogeneous illumination and temperature profiles which influence their performance. Under such conditions, the solar cell behavior is only accurately modeled if the diode and resistive losses are considered to be distributed across the solar cell instead of being gathered, as in the conventional lumped model. This paper presents a distributed diode model and its experimental validation, which was carried out for standard test conditions and a range of temperature and concentration levels going from 25 to 70°C and 1 to 30 suns, respectively, for both homogeneous and a set of inhomogeneous profiles. Modeled and experimental results showed good agreement, thus validating the model. The results of traditional and distributed model approaches are compared with homogeneous and inhomogeneous profiles of irradiation and temperature. Finally, we analyze the effect of different profiles on cell performance.Index Terms-Concentration photovoltaic (CPV), nonuniform illumination, nonuniform temperature, PV solar cell model.

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A two-dimensional finite element model of front surface current flow in cells under non-uniform, concentrated illumination

Cited by 44 publications

References 7 publications

Numerical Validation of a New Approach to Model Single Junction Low Concentration PV Cells under Non-Uniform Illumination

Numerical Validation of a New Approach to Model Single Junction Low Concentration PV Cells under Non-Uniform Illumination

Concentrating optical system optimization for 3- and 4-junction solar cells: impact of illumination profiles

Modeling the Effects of Inhomogeneous Irradiation and Temperature Profile on CPV Solar Cell Behavior

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