Reactive self-tracking solar concentrators: concept, design, and initial materials characterization
Étendue limits angular acceptance of high-concentration photovoltaic systems and imposes precise two-axis mechanical tracking. We show how a planar micro-optic solar concentrator incorporating a waveguide cladding with a nonlinear optical response to sunlight can reduce mechanical tracking requirements. Optical system designs quantify the required response: a large, slow and localized increase in index of refraction. We describe one candidate materials system: a suspension of high index particles in a low index fluid combined with a localized space-charge field to increase particle density and average index. Preliminary experiments demonstrate an index change of aqueous polystyrene nanoparticles in response to a low voltage signal and imply larger responses with optimized nanofluidic materials.
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Tremblay, E., Baker, K. A., Karp, J. H., Tremblay, E. J., Hallas, J. M., & Ford, J. E. (2012). Reactive self-tracking solar concentrators: concept, design, and initial materials characterization. Applied Optics, 51(8), 1086–1094. https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.51.001086
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2012
51
8
1086
1094
REVIEWED
EPFL