Optimization of large-size glass laminated luminescent solar concentrators

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) offer an attractive approach to combine spectral and spatial concentration of both direct and diffuse light without the expensive tracking system. In this study, different size glass laminated luminescent solar concentrators (GL-LSCs) of 7.8 x 7.8 cm(2), 15.6 x 15.6 cm(2), 31.2 x 31.2 cm(2) and 61 x 122 cm(2) were fabricated by using fluorescent dyes Lumogen Red 305 and Yellow 083, ultra-white glass and commercial mono-crystalline silicon solar cells. With the size increase, the output power of the GL-LSCs increases, but the power conversion efficiency (PCE) decreases rapidly due to the transport losses and re-absorption of luminescent materials. As a result, a series of GL-LSCs with bottom-mounted PV cells were fabricated to enhance the PCE. The relationship between the area of luminescent waveguide and the gain of the bottom-mounted PV cells was investigated for the optimization of the GL-LSCs performance. Among them, a highest gain of 1.38 in power over the bare PV cells was obtained with PV cell coverage of 4.54%. A highest PCE of 2.28% was achieved with PV cell coverage of 11.32%. It was found that the design with PV cell coverage of 9.07% have the lowest cost of $ 1.25/We with a PCE of 2.02% and a gain of 1.27. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.