NANOSPLIT · Nanofluid Spectral Beam Splitter Assisted Hybrid CPV/T System

Nanofluid Spectral Beam Splitter Assisted Hybrid CPV/T System

The light-to-power conversion efficiencies of PV systems need to be further enhanced (conversion efficiencies of commercial silicon solar cells lie between 14% to 20%). In experiments, it has been discovered that using PV cells in conjunction with a solar radiation concentrator can increase the PV cell conversion efficiency. However, a major disadvantage of concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) systems is the cell efficiency decrease brought on by the noticeably higher temperatures, which can also cause damage to the cells. These increased PV cell temperatures arise due to the non-utilisation of the entire solar irradiation spectrum for power conversion. The PV module's efficiency improves in conventional PV/T (pre-absorption method) systems because of the heat that is eliminated through direct contact with the working fluid (coolant). However, the temperature of the harvested heat in this system is very low, typically 40–50°C at most which is too low to be useful for secondary applications. To exploit the entire spectrum and create a highly efficient PV-T (CPV-T) system, a liquid-based spectral splitter (absorption and transmission method) based on the 'pre-absorption' approach is suggested. In this method, the incoming radiation with energy beyond the band-gap energy of the PV cells can be efficiently converted into solar heat. The visible spectrum of solar radiation often contains the desirable band for photovoltaic cells. This band is well-suited to most PV materials and allows for higher solar-to-electricity efficiency. The thermal band frequently encompasses both the high-frequency UV spectrum and the low-frequency infrared spectrum. This thermal band's solar energy is inappropriate for producing PV power. In addition, a desirable separation of sunlight into electricity and heat can be achieved by varying the nanoparticle concentration in the splitter according to specific application needs. Implementing advanced loss suppression techniques and spectral splitting concepts into hybrid PV/T collector designs have emerged as key routes towards next-generation PVT collectors, which promise higher performance at a lower cost than traditional solutions. The overall aim of NANOSPLIT is to design and test a novel CPV/T system using nanofluids as the solar spectral splitter (NSS) that can co-produce electricity and heat for domestic or industrial applications. In this novel approach, the concentrator increases the electrical efficiency of the PV cells by concentrating solar radiation, while the nanofluids (nanoparticles) spectrally filter off wavelengths that are inefficiently utilised by the PV cells in the form of heat. NANOSPLIT will offer “significantly higher heat transfer fluid (HTF) outlet temperatures without significant reduction in electrical efficiency”, and this would noticeably widen the spectrum of CPVT system-integration options. Objectives: 1. To develop a plasmonic-material-based nanofluid spectral splitter that will have capabilities for visible light harvesting (which supports electrical conversion) and heat absorption (by filtering UV and infrared rays). 2. To develop a novel nanofluid spectral splitter (NSS)-assisted hybrid CPV/T collector, which will improve electrical efficiency by spectrally filtering off wavelengths in the form of heat that are inefficiently utilised by the PV cells, enabling the delivery of high-temperature (>100 °C) heat and enhancing the life of the PV cells. 3. To achieve an energy distribution ratio between electrical and thermal energy by adjusting nanoparticle concentration, hence overcoming the problem of delivering fluctuating power and heat in response to various home and industrial applications.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз