Improving the effectiveness of photovoltaic devices by light guiding optical foils

C. Leiner; F. P. Wenzl; C. Sommer; G. Peharz

doi:10.1117/12.2237866

7 September 2016 Improving the effectiveness of photovoltaic devices by light guiding optical foils

C. Leiner, F. P. Wenzl, C. Sommer, G. Peharz

Proceedings Volume 9955, Nonimaging Optics: Efficient Design for Illumination and Solar Concentration XIII—Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Nonimaging Optics; 995508 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2237866
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2016, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

A photovoltaic device comprising of areas which are partly covered by solar cells and a light guiding film is investigated. In particular results on the feasibility of combined daylighting and photovoltaic energy generation are presented. Optical simulations have been conducted for a device-design optimized to redirect most of perpendicular impinging light rays onto photovoltaic areas. Two application cases are investigated for integrating the photovoltaic device into windows and/or glazings in middle (northern) latitudes. The first application case deals with an overhead glazing and the second deals with a window integrated in a roof tilted by 30° towards south. For the latter case encouraging results have been derived. In particular it is calculated that during summer time more than 70% of the direct sunlight is absorbed by photovoltaic areas and less than 10% is transmitted. Consequently, effective shading in summer against direct sunlight can be achieved and most of the shaded solar irradiation can be used for photovoltaic energy conversion. In contrast, in winter time about 40% of the direct sunlight is transmitted through the device and enables decent daylighting.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

C. Leiner, F. P. Wenzl, C. Sommer, and G. Peharz "Improving the effectiveness of photovoltaic devices by light guiding optical foils", Proc. SPIE 9955, Nonimaging Optics: Efficient Design for Illumination and Solar Concentration XIII—Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Nonimaging Optics, 995508 (7 September 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2237866

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available