Optical study of a spectrum splitting solar concentrator based on a combination of a diffraction grating and a Fresnel lens

Abstract

Abstract. This paper presents recent improvements of our new solar concentrator design for space application. The concentrator is based on a combination of a diffraction grating (blazed or lamellar) coupled with a Fresnel lens. Thanks to this diffractive/refractive combination, this optical element splits spatially and spectrally the light and focus approximately respectively visible light and IR light onto electrically independent specific cells. It avoid the use of MJs cells and then also their limitations like current matching and lattice matching conditions, leading theoretically to a more tolerant system. The concept is reminded, with recent optimizations, ideal and more realistic results, and the description of an experimental realization highlighting the feasibility of the concept and the closeness of theoretical and experimental results.

Simple and universal method in designs of high-efficiency diffractive optical elements for spectrum separation and beam concentration

“…Such spectrum separation optical elements mainly include prism, [10] thin-film wave interference filters, [11][12][13][14][15] rugate filters, [16] and diffractive optical elements (DOEs). [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] Very recently, Luo et al developed broadband holograms for orbital angular momentum control [28] or 3D display [29] based on electromagnetic resonance at metasurfaces. [30] This kind of metasurface-based devices shows potential applications for spectrum separation in solar cells, on furthering heightening its conversion efficiency.…”

“…In previous papers, scientists designed the DOEs by various methods, aiming at different applications. Stefancich et al [17,18] and Michel et al [19,20] designed the SSBC DOEs by the ray tracing method for photovoltaic (PV) systems, but the designed DOEs were too thick (hundreds of micrometers) for photolithographic fabrications. Menon et al applied the extended direct binary search algorithm to designs of the SSBC DOEs [21,22] and a 20% increase in the total electric power was experimentally demonstrated, in comparison with the same cells without the DOEs.…”