Optical Losses and Durability of 4-Domed Optic for Concentrator Photovoltaics

Abstract

The use of optical elements to focus light onto a smaller area of semiconductor material can enhance the cost effectiveness and electrical performance. Enabling ultrahigh concentration ratios for photovoltaic systems requires an optic bonded directly to the solar cell to further concentrate and homogenise the illumination, as well as to improve the acceptance angle. For many optical materials manufacture flaws are common, and difficult to prevent. An estimation of the effective external quantum efficiency of the receiver based on the material’s transmissivity tells us the effect of added absorptivity from manufacture defects. Evaluating the module under a solar simulator under various angles yields information on how scattered light changes the optic’s concentration ability. This study suggests sapphire has higher optical losses due to its higher refractive index compared to slygard184. Thus, the need for a higher refractive index material must be considered carefully and matched with anti-reflective coatings if needed. The effective concentration of slygard-184 notably suffers when flaws are present, dropping up to 48.2%. Further, the optimum angle is difficult to predict. Minor flaws could be deemed acceptable in performance when high acceptance angles are not the primary design requirement.