Analysis of transmitted optical spectrum enabling accelerated testing of CPV designs

David C. Miller; Michael D. Kempe; Cheryl E. Kennedy; Sarah R. Kurtz

doi:10.1117/12.826251

20 August 2009 Analysis of transmitted optical spectrum enabling accelerated testing of CPV designs

David C. Miller, Michael D. Kempe, Cheryl E. Kennedy, Sarah R. Kurtz

Proceedings Volume 7407, High and Low Concentrator Systems for Solar Electric Applications IV; 74070G (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.826251
Event: SPIE Solar Energy + Technology, 2009, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) has recently gained interest based on its scalability and expected low levelized cost of electricity. The reliability of materials used in CPV systems, however, is not well established. The current qualification test for photodegradation of CPV modules includes only real-time ultraviolet (UV) exposure, i.e. methods for accelerated UV testing have not been developed. Therefore, the UV and infrared (IR) spectra transmitted through representative optical systems is evaluated in this paper. The measurements of concentrating optics are used to assess expected optical performance as well as to understand how to quantify damaging optical exposure. Optical properties (transmittance, refractive index, reflectance, and absorptance) of candidate materials are identified. The dose and flux analysis here identifies the increased significance of IR (as opposed to UV) exposure for CPV systems, particularly for the most concentrating systems. For these, the UV dose may not greatly exceed the unconcentrated global solar condition, but the thermal load scales nearly directly with the geometric concentration.

Citation Download Citation

David C. Miller, Michael D. Kempe, Cheryl E. Kennedy, and Sarah R. Kurtz "Analysis of transmitted optical spectrum enabling accelerated testing of CPV designs", Proc. SPIE 7407, High and Low Concentrator Systems for Solar Electric Applications IV, 74070G (20 August 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.826251

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