Smart solar concentrators for building integrated photovoltaic façades

Wu, Yupeng; Connelly, Karen; Liu, Yuzhe; Gu, Xiaowen; Gao, Yanfeng; Chen, George Z.

Abstract

In this study a novel static concentrating photovoltaic (PV) system, suitable for use in windows or glazing façades, has been designed. The developed smart Concentrating PV (CPV) system is lightweight, low cost and able to generate electricity. Additionally, this system automatically responds to climate by varying the balance of electricity generated from the PV with the amount of solar light and heat permitted through it into the building. It therefore offers the potential to contribute to, and control, energy consumption within buildings. A comprehensive optical analysis of the smart CPV is undertaken via 3-D ray tracing technique. To obtain optimal overall optical performance of the novel smart CPV analysis has been based upon all necessary design parameters including the average reflectivity of the thermotropic reflective layer, the glazing cover dimension, the glazing cover materials as well as the dimensions of the solar cells. In addition, a hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) hydrogel polymer, suitable for use as the reflective thermotropic layer for the smart CPV system, was synthesized and experimentally studied.

Citation

Wu, Y., Connelly, K., Liu, Y., Gu, X., Gao, Y., & Chen, G. Z. (2016). Smart solar concentrators for building integrated photovoltaic façades. Solar Energy, 133, 111-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.03.046

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 21, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Apr 19, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Deposit Date: Jan 26, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 26, 2017
• Journal: Solar Energy
• Print ISSN: 0038-092X
• Electronic ISSN: 1471-1257
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 133
• Pages: 111-118
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.03.046
• Keywords: Smart concentrating PV; Ray tracing; Optical efficiency; ; Thermotropic layer
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/803895
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X16002437