Concentrated Solar, Dual Axis-Tracking, Multi-junction GaAs Cell Photovoltaic System Design for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion

Mustafa G. Guvench; Philip W Swanson; Kevin Michael Wacker

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Conference: 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Seattle, Washington
Publication Date: June 14, 2015
Start Date: June 14, 2015
End Date: June 17, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-692-50180-1
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: ECCD International Outreach
Tagged Division: Energy Conversion and Conservation
Page Count: 24
Page Numbers: 26.388.1 - 26.388.24
DOI: 10.18260/p.23727
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/23727
Download Count: 532

Paper Authors

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Mustafa G. Guvench University of Southern Maine

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Dr. Guvench received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics from Case Western Reserve University. He is currently a full professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Southern Maine. Prior to joining U.S.M. he served on the faculties of the University of Pittsburgh and M.E.T.U., Ankara, Turkey. His research interests and publications span the field of microelectronics including I.C. design, MEMS and semiconductor technology and its application in sensor development, finite element and analytical modeling of semiconductor devices and sensors, and electronic instrumentation and measurement.

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Philip W Swanson University of Southern Maine

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Philip W. Swanson received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern Maine in December of 2014. His interest lies in the distributed application of clean energy technologies. He was founder and president of the USM Engineers Without Borders, a student group that focused on delivering clean energy to communities in developing countries. He led a group that worked with an orphanage in Guatemala to bring solar power to the children of Hogar Rafael Ayau. Professionally, Swanson has worked as an intern at Pika Energy, a company which designs and manufactures residential wind turbines and solar hybrid systems, which operate on a high voltage DC micro grid. He aspires to enter a graduate program in power electronics.

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Kevin Michael Wacker University of Southern Maine

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Kevin Michael Wacker is a student at the University of Southern Maine in the Electrical Engineering program. In the summer of 2013 received a technical internship at Clough Harbor and Associates and continued the internship throughout the year and into the summer of 2014. He grew up in the town of York, Maine.

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Abstract

Concentrated Solar, Dual Axis-Tracking, Multi-junction GaAs Cell Photovoltaic System Design for Efficient Solar Energy ConversionStandard Silicon based Photovoltaic (PV) arrays (Solar Panels) used in solar energy conversionare inherently inefficient, however, higher efficiency multi-junction Gallium-Arsenide based PVcells are available at an increased cost. One method of reducing the cost yet yielding a higherefficiency is through a concentrating device that reflects sunlight onto a smaller area. Using thismethod greatly reduces effectively the surface area of the multi-junction PV cell needed tocollect the solar radiation allowing the higher efficiency panels to be utilized economically.When using concentrated solar radiation, cooling of the panel becomes an issue because there isa reduction in PV power output proportional to temperature. Using a heat sink to remove excessheat form the PV cell improves efficiency and also provides the opportunity to use the excessheat for other applications, namely space heating, water heating, or water purification.The goal of this multi disciplinary project is to create an experimental setup to allow creativework to be conducted by engineering students as a part of their design experience requirement.Although dual-axis tracking devices have been used successfully with concentrating solar arrays,the manufacturing of reflective parabolic dishes is difficult to execute, expensive and limited inscalability. In this work, a lattice structure that is parabolic in two dimensions is being usedwhich provides a framework to mount a series of mirrored polycarbonate strips which areparabolic in one dimension. The combination of multiple strips has a similar effect of a trueparabolic dish limited in focal size by the width of the strips which can be matched with thefinite size of the PV cell, in contrast to a single focal point. Figures 1a, 1b and 1c show the CADdesign of the tracking system, mirror frame designs and the parabolic mirror constructed. Thismirror construction can be easily scaled up in size according to the desired power output.The photovoltaic array is a dual-axis tracking system with microcontroller controlled driveswhich will self-adjust according to sunlight’s zenith and azimuth as assessed by a 4 quadrant suntracker sensor circuit designed (Figure 2) ensuring maximum solar collection. The setup willcollect light using the piecewise parabolic mirror and a small lens attached to the PV cell’sassembly helping concentrate the light onto a 5.6mm by 5.6mm multi-junction PV cell coupledto a heat sink for air cooling (Figure 3). In the second generation design of the system, watercooling will be used which will allow scaling up of the parabolic mirror with a small increase incost while utilizing the original tracking system and the PV cell. Such a modification will alsoprovide option to save the excess heat generated by collecting the heated water in a tank for otheruses.Design and realization of the solar tracker provided an experience which was inherentlymultidisciplinary. Topics such as optical physics, material science, mechanical and electricaldesign, astronomy, thermodynamics, control theory, and a computer aided design wereparamount.Characterization of the dual axis solar tracker was completed by examining several metrics. Thefocal point of the parabolic dish was examined using an IR camera, allowing us to determine theeffective power delivered to the PV cell. The accuracy of the tracker was examined to ensure thefocal point remained consistent throughout the daily solar cycle. An investigation into severalmaterials is planned to identify the optimal construction of a dish, allowing for an inexpensiveridged weather proof design. Further work is necessary to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizingwaste heat generated during operation. Fig. 1a Fig. 1 b Fig. 1c Parabolic Mirror Design AssembledFig.2 Tracking SensorFig.3 PV Assembly

Citation
Format

Guvench, M. G., & Swanson, P. W., & Wacker, K. M. (2015, June), Concentrated Solar, Dual Axis-Tracking, Multi-junction GaAs Cell Photovoltaic System Design for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion Paper presented at 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Seattle, Washington. 10.18260/p.23727

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -       Concentrated Solar, Dual Axis-Tracking, Multi-junction GaAs Cell      Photovoltaic System Design for Efficient Solar Energy ConversionStandard Silicon based Photovoltaic (PV) arrays (Solar Panels) used in solar energy conversionare inherently inefficient, however, higher efficiency multi-junction Gallium-Arsenide based PVcells are available at an increased cost. One method of reducing the cost yet yielding a higherefficiency is through a concentrating device that reflects sunlight onto a smaller area. Using thismethod greatly reduces effectively the surface area of the multi-junction PV cell needed tocollect the solar radiation allowing the higher efficiency panels to be utilized economically.When using concentrated solar radiation, cooling of the panel becomes an issue because there isa reduction in PV power output proportional to temperature. Using a heat sink to remove excessheat form the PV cell improves efficiency and also provides the opportunity to use the excessheat for other applications, namely space heating, water heating, or water purification.The goal of this multi disciplinary project is to create an experimental setup to allow creativework to be conducted by engineering students as a part of their design experience requirement.Although dual-axis tracking devices have been used successfully with concentrating solar arrays,the manufacturing of reflective parabolic dishes is difficult to execute, expensive and limited inscalability. In this work, a lattice structure that is parabolic in two dimensions is being usedwhich provides a framework to mount a series of mirrored polycarbonate strips which areparabolic in one dimension. The combination of multiple strips has a similar effect of a trueparabolic dish limited in focal size by the width of the strips which can be matched with thefinite size of the PV cell, in contrast to a single focal point. Figures 1a, 1b and 1c show the CADdesign of the tracking system, mirror frame designs and the parabolic mirror constructed. Thismirror construction can be easily scaled up in size according to the desired power output.The photovoltaic array is a dual-axis tracking system with microcontroller controlled driveswhich will self-adjust according to sunlight’s zenith and azimuth as assessed by a 4 quadrant suntracker sensor circuit designed (Figure 2) ensuring maximum solar collection. The setup willcollect light using the piecewise parabolic mirror and a small lens attached to the PV cell’sassembly helping concentrate the light onto a 5.6mm by 5.6mm multi-junction PV cell coupledto a heat sink for air cooling (Figure 3). In the second generation design of the system, watercooling will be used which will allow scaling up of the parabolic mirror with a small increase incost while utilizing the original tracking system and the PV cell. Such a modification will alsoprovide option to save the excess heat generated by collecting the heated water in a tank for otheruses.Design and realization of the solar tracker provided an experience which was inherentlymultidisciplinary. Topics such as optical physics, material science, mechanical and electricaldesign, astronomy, thermodynamics, control theory, and a computer aided design wereparamount.Characterization of the dual axis solar tracker was completed by examining several metrics. Thefocal point of the parabolic dish was examined using an IR camera, allowing us to determine theeffective power delivered to the PV cell. The accuracy of the tracker was examined to ensure thefocal point remained consistent throughout the daily solar cycle. An investigation into severalmaterials is planned to identify the optimal construction of a dish, allowing for an inexpensiveridged weather proof design. Further work is necessary to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizingwaste heat generated during operation.                                     Fig. 1a                                       Fig. 1 b                                               Fig. 1c Parabolic Mirror Design AssembledFig.2 Tracking SensorFig.3 PV Assembly
AU  - Mustafa G. Guvench
AU  - Philip W Swanson
AU  - Kevin Michael Wacker
CY  - Seattle, Washington
DA  - 2015/06/14
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Concentrated Solar, Dual Axis-Tracking, Multi-junction GaAs Cell Photovoltaic System Design for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/23727
DO  - 10.18260/p.23727
ER  -