Photovoltaic–thermal solar energy collectors based on optical tubes

Abstract In this work, we examine the use of oil filled tubular optical concentrators coupled with a model organic bulk heterojunction photovoltaic: poly-3-hexathiophene-[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric-acid methyl-ester (P3HT:PCBM) to create a photovoltaic–photothermal hybrid solar collector. The organic photovoltaic cells were fabricated onto one half of a tubular light pipe and then silicone oil was flowed inside the pipe. This allows solar energy in the visible wavelengths to be effectively converted into electricity by photocell while simultaneously; the silicone oil captures the infrared radiation (IR) part of the spectrum as heat energy. The VIS–IR power conversion efficiency for this model organic system, under normally incident AM1.5G illumination was found to be: PCE ∼ 28%, which is combined by the photovoltaic efficiency (PCE ∼ 2%) and the photothermal efficiency (PCE ∼ 26%). We further show that the oil filled tube, acts as a passive optical element that concentrates the light onto the photovoltaic and thereby increases its overall efficiency but also the range of incident angles in which the light is efficiently captured.

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