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Optical design of a static solar concentrator using Fresnel lenses

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Abstract

We present an optical design for a static solar concentrator for a photovoltaic cell (SCPV). The concentrator consists of two Fresnel lenses, one concave and one convex. The SCPV was designed and optimized using ray-tracing computer simulations. The performance of the SCPV was demonstrated using two settings: static mode and periodic mode with passive bi-yearly angle adjustments. Even without an active tracking system, the SCPV achieved an average Concentration ratio (CR) in the range of 1.94-2.86. The CR was distributed non-uniformly throughout the year, and the value and season of the highest CR were different for the two settings. The optimal mode for SCPV use can be chosen by balancing specific preferences regarding the target season for peak performance, maximum average CR, and maintenance frequency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Sung Moon Ha & Joon Sik Lee

  2. Departiment of Mechanical Engineering, Incheon National University, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Korea

    Daeho Choi & Minsub Han

Authors
  1. Sung Moon Ha
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  2. Daeho Choi
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  3. Minsub Han
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  4. Joon Sik Lee
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Minsub Han.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Youngsuk Nam

Seongmoon Ha received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, majoring in heat transfer.

Minsub Han received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, majoring in microscale fluid dynamics. His current interests are particle simulations applied to small-scale fluids and soft matter.

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Ha, S.M., Choi, D., Han, M. et al. Optical design of a static solar concentrator using Fresnel lenses. J Mech Sci Technol 31, 949–958 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0147-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0147-8

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