Luminescent solar concentrators with fiber geometry

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Renewable Energy Technologies

Background:

• Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) offer a promising avenue for solar energy harvesting.
• Investigating fiber-based LSCs is crucial for developing efficient solar energy solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of fiber luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs).
• To compare the efficiency of coated versus homogeneously doped fibers.
• To analyze the concentration performance and collection efficiency under various conditions.

Main Methods:

• Analytical modeling techniques.
• Ray-tracing simulations.
• Performance analysis under different irradiance conditions (direct and diffuse).

Main Results:

• Coated fibers demonstrate higher efficiency compared to homogeneously doped fibers, particularly at low absorption levels.
• Concentration factor is predicted to scale linearly with fiber length for practical LSC designs.
• A 1-meter long fiber LSC doped with Lumogen Red 305 can achieve a concentration of approximately 35x for the AM1.5g spectrum up to 1100 nm.
• In London, diffuse solar radiation significantly contributes to collection efficiency, even matching direct irradiance during winter under clear skies.

Conclusions:

• Fiber LSCs, especially coated ones, present a viable technology for solar energy concentration.
• The linear relationship between concentration and fiber length simplifies practical design considerations.
• Understanding the interplay of direct and diffuse light is essential for optimizing LSC performance in diverse geographical locations and seasons.