Advanced PV concentrators

It is essential to obtain high values of tolerance for PV concentrators because manufacturing process always implies some accuracy errors. In this way, three new free-form concentrators are presented here, combining high geometric concentration and high tolerance (high acceptance angle). This is achieved by using the SMS3D design method, which is the most advanced method to design free-form surfaces in non-imaging optics. Uniform illuminance on the cell is important as well, for proper behavior and durability of the system, so our three designs will have homogenizer elements. We have added a homogenizer rod to one of the designs while for the other two Ko¿hler integrator configurations have been chosen. Concentration, acceptance angle and uniformity values obtained are shown in results section.