3 research outputs found
Direct sunlight facility for testing and research in HCPV
A facility for testing different components for HCPV application has been developed in the framework of
“Fotovoltaico ad Alta Efficienza” (FAE) project funded by the Sicilian Regional Authority (PO FESR Sicilia 2007/2013
4.1.1.1). The testing facility is equipped with an heliostat providing a wide solar beam inside the lab, an optical bench
for mounting and aligning the HCPV components, electronic equipments to characterize the I-V curves of multijunction
cells operated up to 2000 suns, a system to circulate a fluid in the heat sink at controlled temperature and flow-rate, a
data logging system with sensors to measure temperatures in several locations and fluid pressures at the inlet and outlet
of the heat sink, and a climatic chamber with large test volume to test assembled HCPV modules
Electrical-optical characterization of multijunction solar cells under 2000X concentration
In the framework of the FAE "Fotovoltaico ad Alta Efficienza" ("High Efficiency Photovoltaic") Research Project (PO FESR Sicilia 2007/2013 4.1.1.1), we have performed electrical and optical characterizations of commercial InGaP/InGaAs/Ge triple-junction solar cells (1 cm2) mounted on a prototype HCPV module, installed in Palermo (Italy). This system uses a reflective optics based on rectangular off-axis parabolic mirror with aperture 45Ă—45 cm2 leading to a geometrical concentration ratio of 2025. In this study, we report the I-V curve measured under incident power of about 700 W/m2 resulting in an electrical power at maximum point (PMP) of 41.4 W. We also investigated the optical properties by the electroluminescence (EL) spectra of the top (InGaP) and middle (InGaAs) subcells. From the analysis of the experimental data we extracted the bandgap energies of these III-V semiconductors in the range 305Ă·385 K