Development and Testing of a High-Efficiency/High-Concentration, Photovoltaic Module Employing AlGaAs/GaAs Solar Cells

摘要

The objectives were to design, manufacture, and test an advanced photovoltaic module employing high-concentration (400 suns) Fresnel lenses, high efficiency AlGaAs/GaAs solar cells, and jet-impingement cell cooling. The prototype module produced approximately 100 W of dc power using 12 organometallic-vapor phase epitaxial (OM-VPE) cells (21 to 23% efficiency at 400 suns, 50 exp 0 C) and 12 acrylic lenses and was designed for thermal energy recovery. The maximum module efficiency measured in Palo Alto, CA, was 17.1%, compared to the 14% design goal. This performance was at a 50 exp 0 C coolant inlet temperature and reflected deduction of coolant pumping power. The module efficiency is 17.5% when corrected to NOCT conditions (20 exp 0 C coolant inlet temperature). Approximately 40 to 50% of the direct normal incident energy was determined to be available for recovery from the module coolant. The design and performance of a 3.2 kW/sub p/ photovoltaic array employing a further improved version of the module is also presented. (ERA citation 07:014031)