Optimised Dielectric Totally Internally Reflecting Concentrator for the Solar Photonic Optoelectronic Transformer System: Maximum Concentration Method

Renewable energies have become a matter of global attention during the last few years, with solar energy being a major focus. Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system is an example of solar energy applications. This paper describes the Solar Photonic Optoelectronic Transformer (SPOT) system, one of the components in the SolarBrane, a BIPV system developed by SolarEmpower Ltd. The general design of a dielectric totally internally reflecting concentrator (DTIRC) is described. The process of designing an optimized solar concentrator using the maximum concentration method (MCM) for the SPOT system is also outlined with detailed steps on the simulation setup presented. The paper then compares the performance of the new concentrator with the current concentrator design. The results from the MATLAB simulation shows that the MCM offers a higher geometrical concentration gain, with a slight increase in the concentrator size.