Analysis of Low-Concentration Solar Photovoltaic Systems: a Comparative Study of Concentrator Geometries
Abstract
The demand for sustainable energy solutions has led to the development of low-concentration photovoltaic (LCPV) systems to improve solar energy conversion efficiency. This study investigates a solar concentrator model, evaluating its efficiency and irradiance uniformity on the receiver. Computational modeling and performance analysis were conducted using SolTrace software, with precise system modeling. The study analyzed three configurations: a Linear Fresnel concentrator adapted which combines Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) irradiance uniformity with Fresnel tracking flexibility; a V-Trough and a truncated CPC models based on previous studies. The comparative analysis evaluated parameters such as irradiance uniformity, acceptance angle, intercept factors and concentration efficiency under varying conditions. The results contribute to optimizing LCPV systems, improving energy efficiency.
Keywords
Low-Concentration Photovoltaic Systems, SolTrace, Fresnel Concentrator, CPC, V-Trough, Energy Efficiency