Concentrator photovoltaic reliability testing at extreme concentrations up to 2000 suns

Abstract

Practical concentrator photovoltaic systems operating at high solar concentration levels up to 2000 suns experience large thermal and electrical loads in addition to large power density transients under routine operation. These systems require efficient cooling systems to manage the associated incident power densities up to 200 W/cm 2 . Photovoltaic cells and thermal interface materials experience considerable stress under these load conditions. Reliability data is sparse for operation above 500 suns. We present high power test results for a commercial triple junction cell cooled through a high performance metal thermal interface using active liquid cooling methods for power densities up to 200 W/cm 2 .

Cooling design and evaluation for photovoltaic cells within constrained space in a CPV/CSP hybrid solar system

“…For linear concentrators and densely packed cells under high concentrations over 150 Suns, an active cooling system is necessary, while passive cooling is usually insufficient to handle this situation since less area is available for heatsinking. For high power concentrations, forced air cooling [10][11][12][13][14], jet impingement cooling [15][16][17][18][19], and single-or two-phase forced convection cooling with manifold/microchannel heatsinks [20][21][22][23] have been reported as adequate solutions. Many researchers are also seeking novel cooling options based on the aforementioned cooling methods, for instance, using high efficiency cell backing materials [24] and highly-conductive coatings with carbon nanotubes for passive cooling [25], and water immersed cooling [26,27].…”

Design of a microscale organic Rankine cycle for high-concentration photovoltaics waste thermal power generation

“…For CPVs, high concentrations are advantageous because the open circuit voltage increases with flux, which results in higher conversion efficiencies [2]- [5]. In general, miniaturized high concentration photovoltaics allow for the replacement of a large area of expensive solar cell material by lower cost concentrating optics [4], [5]; and HCPV cells with higher solar-electric conversion efficiency could comprise a fraction of the capital investment [I].…”

Ensayos acelerados de fiabilidad de células solares de concentración

“…• La empresa IBM en [vKAKM+09] realizan ensayos de calidad sobre células de 100 mm 2 con concentraciones solares reales en campo de hasta 2000 soles, para comprobar el comportamiento de las células a muy alta concentración y a la vez realizar un análisis de los disipadores.…”