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Performance Evaluation of New Two Axes Tracking PV-Thermal Concentrator



Author(s)

Luis C. Chea1, Håkan Håkansson2 and Björn Karlsson3

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DOI:10.17265/1934-7359/2013.12.002

1. Department of Physics, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo 257, Mozambique
2. Architecture and Built Environment, Lund Technical University, Lund SE-221 00, Sweden
3. School of Sustainable Development of Society and Technology, Mälardalen University, Västerås SE 72123, Sweden

The overall problem with PV (photovoltaic) systems is the high cost for the photovoltaic modules. This makes it interesting to concentrate irradiation on the PV-module, thereby reducing the PV area necessary for obtaining the same amount of output power. The tracking capability of two-axes tracking unit driving a new concentrating paraboloid for electric and heat production have been evaluated. The reflecting optics consisting of flat mirrors provides uniform illumination on the absorber which is a good indication for optimised electrical production due to series connection of solar cells. The calculated optical efficiency of the system indicates that about 80% of the incident beam radiation is transferred to the absorber. Simulations of generated electrical and thermal energy from the evaluated photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) collector show the potential of obtaining high total energy efficiency.

Solar concentrating, photovoltaic/thermal systems, tracking concentrating systems.