Conversion and Testing of a Solar Thermal Parabolic Trough Collector for CPV-T Application

Richard Felsberger, Armin Buchroithner, Bernhard Gerl and Hannes Wegleiter
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Richard Felsberger: Institute of Electrical Measurement and Sensor Systems, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, Austria
Armin Buchroithner: Institute of Electrical Measurement and Sensor Systems, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, Austria
Bernhard Gerl: Institute of Electrical Measurement and Sensor Systems, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, Austria
Hannes Wegleiter: Institute of Electrical Measurement and Sensor Systems, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, Austria

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-24

Abstract: In the field of solar power generation, concentrator systems, such as concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) or concentrated solar power (CSP), are subject of intensive research activity, due to high efficiencies in electrical power generation compared to conventional photovoltaics (PV) and low-cost energy storage on the thermal side. Even though the idea of combining the thermal and electrical part in one absorber is obvious, very few hybrid systems (i.e., concentrator photovoltaics-thermal systems (CPV-T)) are either described in literature or commercially available. This paper features the conversion of a commercial thermal parabolic trough collector to a CPV-T hybrid system using multi-junction PV cells. The design process is described in detail starting with the selection of suitable PV cells, elaborating optical and mechanical system requirements, heat sink design and final assembly. Feasibility is proven by practical tests involving maximum power point tracking as well as empirical determination of heat generation and measurement results are presented.

Keywords: concentrator photovoltaic; parabolic trough; concentrated solar power; multi-junction cell; CSP; CPV; CPV-T (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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