Non-imaging freeform optical device for use in a high concentration photovoltaic device
First Claim
1. A method for forming a non-imaging freeform optical device for use in a high concentration photovoltaic device, comprising:
- calculating surface normals for a plurality of locations on a surface of the non-imaging freeform optical device based on a half angular field of view of a sun and a predetermined distance from the non-imaging freeform optical device to a solar sensor cell;
shaping a mold for a substrate of the non-imaging freeform optical device, shaping further comprising forming a surface geometry of the mold according to the surface normals calculated for the non-imaging freeform optical device;
filling the mold with substrate material to form a substrate in the shape of the mold;
separating the mold and the substrate after the substrate material has conformed to the shape of the mold; and
polishing the substrate.
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Abstract
A high concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) optics are described. In one example, an HCPV device can include a frame and a solar sensor cell attached to the frame. The solar cell can be configured to receive an optical beam and can further be configured to convert solar energy in the incident optical beam into electrical energy or power. The HCPV device can further include a non-imaging freeform optical device. The optical device can have an asymmetric surface profile with a predefined surface normal arranged to direct incident optical beams toward an entire solar sensor cell surface area. The freeform optical device can have a larger diameter than the solar sensor cell. Also, the freeform optical device can have an asymmetric surface profile shaped to concentrate the incident optical beams onto the solar sensor cell.
26 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for forming a non-imaging freeform optical device for use in a high concentration photovoltaic device, comprising:
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calculating surface normals for a plurality of locations on a surface of the non-imaging freeform optical device based on a half angular field of view of a sun and a predetermined distance from the non-imaging freeform optical device to a solar sensor cell; shaping a mold for a substrate of the non-imaging freeform optical device, shaping further comprising forming a surface geometry of the mold according to the surface normals calculated for the non-imaging freeform optical device; filling the mold with substrate material to form a substrate in the shape of the mold; separating the mold and the substrate after the substrate material has conformed to the shape of the mold; and polishing the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for designing a non-imaging freeform optical device for use in a high concentration photovoltaic device, the method comprising:
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identifying a concentration region relative the non-imaging freeform optical device for concentrating incident light from the non-imaging freeform optical device; initiating a first ray from a first edge of the concentration region toward a predetermined point on the non-imaging freeform optical device using a ray-tracing model; redirecting the first ray toward a first wavefront; initiating a second ray from a second wavefront that impinges on the predetermined point offset from an angular impingement of the first wavefront at the predetermined point by an angular view of a sun; redirecting the second ray from the non-imaging freeform optical device to a second edge of the non-imaging freeform optical device; and calculating a surface normal at the predetermined point for the non-imaging freeform optical device such that the first and second wavefronts are redirected to a surface of the non-imaging freeform optical device. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification