Ray tracing simulations of a novel low concentrator PVT solar collector for low latitudes

• One way to reduce solar collector's production costs is to use concentrators that increase the output per photovoltaic cell. Concentrating collectors re-direct solar radiation that passes through an aperture into an absorber. The current study evaluates electrical performance of symmetric C-PVT solar collectors with a vertical bifacial receiver, through a numerical ray tracing model software, Tonatiuh. Several designs have been analysed, such as the Pure Parabola (PP) and MaReCo CPC geometries, both symmetric. Parameters such as concentration factor, electrical performance, transversal and longitudinal IAM (Incidence Angle Modifier), the influence of optical elements and influence of the length of the reflector in the shadow effect have been studied for different geometries. The simulations were performed for Mogadishu, Somalia and showed good results for the Pure Parabola collector (PPc) annual received energy, 379 and 317 kWh/m2/year for a focal length of 15 e 30 mm, respectively. A symmetrical double MaReCo CPC collector has been simulated with the annual received energy of 315 kWh/m2/year. The addition of the optical elements will decrease the annual received energy of the PPc by around 11.5%, where the optical properties (7.1%) and glass (4.1%) have the biggest impact in the annual received energy. Overall, symmetric geometries proved to be the most suitable geometries for low latitudes applications, being the geometry f1 (focal length of 15 mm) the best one. 

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik -- Energisystem (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering -- Energy Systems (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

MaReCo CPC geometry

Pure Parabola collector

Symmetric C-PVT

Tonatiuh

C (programming language)

Geometry

Optical properties

Photoelectrochemical cells

Photovoltaic cells

Rhenium compounds

Solar collectors

Solar heating

Solar power generation

Solar radiation

Concentrating collector

Concentration factors

Direct solar radiation

Electrical performance

Ray tracing simulation

Ray tracing

Hållbar stadsutveckling

Sustainable Urban Development

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)