Design method for nonimaging solar photovoltaic concentrators using genetic algorithms

Daria Freier*, Roberto Ramirez-Iniguez, Firdaus Muhammad Sukki, Carlos Gamio

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

    1 Citation (Scopus)
    117 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Off-grid solar chargers are one of the ways forward to achieve universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern electricity. To achieve this goal, the sustainability aspect of the solar chargers must be further improved. Nonimaging, static solar photovoltaic (PV) concentrators reduce the amount of PV material and thus the embodied energy and greenhouse gas emissions of the solar PV panel, improve its recyclability and reduce the use of hazardous chemicals during its manufacturing, recycling and disposal stages. A novel nonimaging solar PV concentrator named circular rotational square hyperboloid (CRSH) was recently proposed for portable solar systems for developing countries. To further reduce the material usage and production time of the concentrator while achieving an optical concentration ratio above 3x within the angles of incidence of ± 40º, the parameters of the design were optimised using genetic algorithms. The optimisation parameters are discussed and the influence of the objective function on the optimised design is presented. The genetically optimised circular rotational square hyperboloid (GOCRSH) concentrator shows an improved gain-to-volume ratio compared to the CRSH and to several nonimaging solar photovoltaic concentrators proposed for building integrated concentrated PV.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationAIP Conference Proceedings 2012
    EditorsMarc Steiner, Ignacio Anton, Myles Steiner
    PublisherAmerican Institute of Physics
    Pages030006-1-030006-7
    Number of pages7
    ISBN (Print) 9780735417281
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 13 Sept 2018
    Event14th International Conference on Concentrator Photovoltaic Systems - The Central, Palace of Congresses and Exhibitions, Puertollano, Spain
    Duration: 16 Apr 201818 Apr 2018
    Conference number: 14

    Conference

    Conference14th International Conference on Concentrator Photovoltaic Systems
    Abbreviated titleCPV-14
    Country/TerritorySpain
    CityPuertollano
    Period16/04/1818/04/18

    Keywords

    • photovoltaics
    • greenhouse gases
    • evolutionary computation
    • embodied energy
    • solar system

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Physics and Astronomy

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Design method for nonimaging solar photovoltaic concentrators using genetic algorithms'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this