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Improved design of a three‐dimensional, static concentrator lens using meteorological data
Author(s) -
Yoshioka K.,
Goma S.,
Kurokawa K.,
Saitoh T.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-159x(199901/02)7:1<61::aid-pip242>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - concentrator , lens (geology) , irradiance , optics , aperture (computer memory) , acceptance angle , nonimaging optics , angle of incidence (optics) , materials science , environmental science , physics , acoustics
A three‐dimensional, rectangular concentrator lens (3D lens) has been designed by combining two kinds of two‐dimensional compound elliptic lenses and meteorological data. Optical concentration ratios of the 3D lenses designed at various half‐acceptance angles are calculated and measured as a function of light incidence angle. Yearly integrated irradiance and yearly averaged module efficiency are simulated using the calculated optical concentration ratios and meteorological data. A performance index—a product of entry aperture and cell occupation ratios—is defined to compare with that of flat‐plate modules. Consequently, designed half‐acceptance angles are optimized at 40° and 70° in north–south and east–west directions. The occupation area of solar cells can be reduced to 62% using this lens although module area increases to only 1·16 times that of the flat‐plate module. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.