Static Concentrator Photovoltaics Module for Electric Vehicle Applications Based on Compound Parabolic Concentrator

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EVs) and photovoltaics (PVs) are new technologies that will play an important role in the transportation industry over the next decade. Using solar panels on the roofs of cars is one of the simplest ways to reduce fuel costs and increase the mobility of electric vehicles. Solar electric cars can be charged anywhere under the Sun without additional infrastructure, but the problem is the size of the solar panel is limited on the roof and the electricity conversion efficiency of the panel is only 15% to 20%. This means they will not provide significant electricity to EVs. An effective way to increase efficiency is to utilize multi-junction solar cells with concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) technology. The challenge is that the moving sun-tracking mechanism will reduce the stability of the vehicle structure. To solve this issue, in this research, we present a static concentrator photovoltaic system for electric vehicles. This structure is more stable and simpler than CPV systems using sun-tracking mechanisms and thus suitable for car roof application. The CPV system includes solid compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs), three-junction solar cells, and a crystalline Si cell panel. This structure allows for the manufacture of a static CPV with a geometrical concentration ratio of 4× for three-junction cells. The simulation results showed that the module can achieve 25% annual efficiency. Moreover, it can be flexible to meet the requirements of car roof application.

Optical Developments in Concentrator Photovoltaic Systems—A Review

“…Based on geometric concentration, CPV systems are classified into different categories: LCPV, MCPV, HCPV, and UHCPV [49,59]. Different solar concentrators have been developed to achieve low concentrations of 2.2×, 3.6×, 4×, 7×, and 9.93× [34,[60][61][62][63], medium concentrations of 23×, 31.31×, The reflected ray, irrespective of the surface's limitations, can be defined as in [42].…”

“…Based on geometric concentration, CPV systems are classified into different categories: LCPV, MCPV, HCPV, and UHCPV [49,59]. Different solar concentrators have been developed to achieve low concentrations of 2.2×, 3.6×, 4×, 7×, and 9.93× [34,[60][61][62][63], medium concentrations of 23×, 31.31×, and 40× [64][65][66], high concentrations of 128×, 310×, 610×, 622×, 707×, and 738× [30,[67][68][69][70][71], and ultra-high concentrations of 2300×, 2304×, 5800×, and 6057× [72][73][74][75], respectively. Point-focused CPV systems have a high concentration, but they provide a nonuniform irradiance distribution.…”

“…This novel research unlocked a path for the tracking-less CPV system. A nontracking CPV system was designed to achieve a wider acceptance angle of ±44.7 • using the CPC [61]. A nontracking CPV system was developed to provide a compact and maintenance-free system in [24].…”

“…In [107], a concentrating system using the CPC achieved a geometrical concentration of 285×, optical efficiency of 72%, and an acceptance angle of ±1.1 • . A novel CPV system for an electric vehicle was tested to be considered for different optical parameters [61]. The system achieved a geometrical concentration of 4×, optical efficiency of 80%, and electrical efficiency of 35%.…”

Nonimaging High Concentrating Photovoltaic System Using Trough

“…For irradiance uniformity, a kaleidoscope was placed over the triple-junction solar cell. A unique CPV module [33] has been tested for electric vehicles, which achieved an electrical efficiency of 35% with triple junction solar cell and a geometrical concentration of 4×. Since the tracking was not preferred for the system, the CPC was used to get a high acceptance angle.…”