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1212Wei-ChunMasterThesisFinalRFinal.pdf (7.81 MB)

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NON-TRACKED MIRROR-AUGMENTED PHOTOVOLTAIC DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE

Lin, Wei-Chun
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1363626307

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Sciences (Engineering), Case Western Reserve University, Materials Science and Engineering.
In developing photovoltaic (PV) technology, it is crucial to provide low cost PV power. One of the useful methods is to increase the power output of conventional PV modules since the major cost (module manufacturing, mounts, wiring, installation labor, etc.) tends to scale with system area. Increased power output, due to improved light harvesting, will produce more power per unit area. The use of PV modules, which have been augmented by the addition of low-cost solar mirrors, provides the opportunity to improve light harvesting of PV modules while reducing the cost of power. In order to harvest more incident solar irradiance, an optimized design configuration between a flatpanel module and mirror is necessary for a fixed (non-tracked) mirror-augmented photovoltaic (MAPV) system. A series of 1D irradiance models were developed to screen various MAPV design configurations. Optical ray-tracing was used to determine irradiance non-uniformity issues on a fixed MAPV system. Both the 1D irradiance and ray-tracing results are compared to outdoor field test results. The current-voltage (I-V) curve tracing of test modules was performed with a Daystar Multi-tracer for time series analysis. Over a three-month period of study the fixed MAPV system produced 10% more power than an equivalent non-augmented panel. An adjustable mounting system “time machine” was used to estimate yearly power production. The experimental time machine result matched the ray-trace simulation and showed a “gullwing curve” of monthly power output with peak production on the equinoxes and reduced production on the solstices. This “gullwing” power production is characteristic for fixed MAPV system geometrics.
Roger French (Advisor)
Mark DeGuire (Committee Member)
David Matthiesen (Committee Member)
83 p.
Materials Science; Mechanical Engineering

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Lin, W.-C. (2013). NON-TRACKED MIRROR-AUGMENTED PHOTOVOLTAIC DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE [Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1363626307

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Lin, Wei-Chun. NON-TRACKED MIRROR-AUGMENTED PHOTOVOLTAIC DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE. 2013. Case Western Reserve University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1363626307.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Lin, Wei-Chun. "NON-TRACKED MIRROR-AUGMENTED PHOTOVOLTAIC DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE." Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1363626307

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1363626307
817
© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.