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A solar CPV device using a linear Fresnel reflector (LFR) concentrator is described. The design principle of the concentrator is provided. The solar concentrating processes are simulated by using the MCRT approach. A small scale test rig of the concentrator is constructed to investigate the actual optical and I–V performances of the CPV device. Both of the simulation and experimental results reveal that the proposed concentrator has a relatively high solar concentrating uniformity. The configuration and optical analyses of the concentrator are launched. The results show that the geometric concentrating ratio and ground utilization ratio both increase with the solar panel installing height increased. When the solar cell height is settled, the maximum value of ground utilization ratio exists with the mirror field width increased. The sun-tracking accuracy effect analysis is also carried out. The results indicate that the normalized optical efficiency of the CPV system using the LFR concentrator can be 0.62 or higher when the tracking error is less than 1°. A solar cell monomer and a cell module are used to carry out the I–V experiments. The test results of their energy conversion efficiencies are 14.7% and 13.6%, respectively. • A solar CPV system using a LFR concentrator is proposed. • A test prototype of the LFR concentrator is established for experimental study. • Investigation results show a high solar concentrating uniformity of the CPV device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A multi-segment plate (MSP) concentrator for solar concentration photovoltaic (CPV) system is described. The optical model of the concentrator is established and the Monte Carlo Ray Tracing approach is employed to conduct the solar concentrating simulation. A prototype of the concentrator is built for the experimental study. The comparison of the numerical and experimental results show a good agreement on the energy flux density distribution on solar cells. The test results reveal that the concentrator has a relatively high solar concentrating uniformity of 0.8. The I-V test is carried out and the results indicate that the photo-electric transformation efficiencies of solar cell monomer and module are both higher than those of the CPV system with a parabolic trough concentrator. The optical analyses of the concentrator are also carried out. The results show that the geometric concentrating ratio increases with the increasing of solar cell installing height. When the solar cell installing height is fixed, the peak value of geometric concentrating ratio exists as the slope angle of focal plane increases from 0° to 90°. The sun-tracking error effect analysis results indicate that the relative optical efficiency of the CPV system could be 0.8 or even higher under normal sun-tracking condition. Highlights • A multi-segment plate (MSP) concentrator for solar CPV system is proposed. • A prototype of the MSP concentrator is developed for experimental study. • The investigation results show a high solar concentrating uniformity of the MSP concentrator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-energy complementary technology is meaningful for promoting the development of solar energy utilization, and the main novelty of this paper is the proposal of a novel linear Fresnel reflector solar-gas combined (LSGC) system which utilizes the organic Rankine cycle driven proton exchange membrane hydrogen production (PEM-HP) subsystem as well as is designed for generating electricity and hydrogen. By using the Ebsilon, the operation performance and exergy analyses of the LSGC system are launched. The results show that the output power and electric efficiency of the LSGC system are 424.8 MW and 45.4%. The solar field contributes a power of 34 MW. The hydrogen production rate of the LSGC system is 182.88 kg/day. The solar field, GTCC and PEM-HP section can reach the coordinated operation effectively during a long term, revealing the technical feasibility of the LSGC system. The exergy analysis results indicate that the solar field has the second maximum exergy destruction and the smallest exergy efficiency, and the combustion chamber has the maximum exergy destruction. The economic analysis shows that the levelized costs of electricity and hydrogen of the LSGC system are 0.045 $/kWh and 5.67 $/kg. The environment effect evaluation shows that compared with the coal power, the LSGC system can reduce the annual emissions of CO 2 , NO x , SO 2 and dust effectively. Those reveal relatively acceptable economic feasibility and environment protection effect of the LSGC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]