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Planar concentrators near the étendue limit
Roland Winston1, Jeffrey M Gordon
1School of Natural Sciences and School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, California 95344, USA. rwinston@ucmerced.edu
Optics Letters
|October 8, 2005
Summary
Researchers developed an ultracompact planar solar concentrator using aplanatic imaging and nonimaging flux boosters. This device achieves near-ல்imit performance for high-efficiency multijunction photovoltaics, generating 1W from a 1mm² cell.
Area of Science:
- Optics
- Renewable Energy
- Materials Science
Background:
- High-efficiency solar energy conversion is crucial for sustainable power.
- Existing concentrator designs face limitations in size and étendue performance.
- Aplanatic imaging and nonimaging optics offer potential for improved solar concentration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate an ultracompact planar solar concentrator.
- To integrate aplanatic imaging with nonimaging flux boosters.
- To assess the device's performance for high-flux photovoltaic applications.
Main Methods:
- Proposed novel optical designs combining aplanatic imaging and nonimaging flux boosters.
- Developed a planar glass-filled concentrator.
- Simulated and analyzed optical performance near the étendue limit.
- Evaluated potential power generation for multijunction solar cells.
Main Results:
- Achieved an ultracompact planar concentrator design.
- Performance near the étendue limit was demonstrated.
- Realistic power generation of 1 W from a 1 mm² cell was projected.
- The design also provides collimation for high-numerical-aperture sources when reversed.
Conclusions:
- The integrated optical design offers a pathway to highly efficient, compact solar concentrators.
- This technology is promising for advancing multijunction photovoltaics at high flux.
- The dual functionality (concentration and collimation) enhances design versatility.
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