Solar energy conversion with fluorescent collectors |
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Authors: | A Goetzberger W Greube |
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Institution: | 1. Institut für Angewandte Festk?rperphysik der Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, D-7800, Freiburg, Fed. Rep. Germany
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Abstract: | A new principle for solar energy conversion is proposed and evaluated theoretically. Collection and concentration of direct
and diffuse radiation is possible by the use of a stack of transparent sheets of material doped with fluorescent dyes. High
efficiency of light collection can be achieved by light guiding and special design of collectors. The optical path length
in a triangular collector is computed.
In combination with solar cells this type of collector offers the advantage of separating the various fractions of light and
converting them with solar cells with different bandgaps. Theoretical conversion efficiency under optimum conditions is 32%
for a system with four semiconductors.
Thermal energy conversion offers several advantages over conventional collectors: High temperature and efficiency even under
weak illumination, separation of heat transport and radiation collection, low thermal mass. Thermal efficiency is computed
to be between 42% and 60%. Very attractive appear hybrid systems for generation of thermal and electric energy. An estimate
of the economics of electricity generation shows that due to the concentration costs can be much lower than possible today.
With the use of only silicon cells the breakeven point of $0.5/W is almost reached.
Practical difficulties to be solved are: Synthesis of dyes with stringent requirements, identification of plastic materials
with high transparency and development of solar cells with higher bandgaps. |
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Keywords: | 84 60 85 60 |
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