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Optimization of gain and energy conversion efficiency using front-facing photovoltaic cell

luminescent solar concentrator design.

Carley Corradoa,1, Shin Woei Leowa,c,1, Melissa Osborna, Emory Chanb,Benjamin Balabana, Sue
A. Carter.

Luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) windows with front-facing photovoltaic (PV) cells were built
andtheir gain and power efficiency were investigated. Conventional LSCs employ a photovoltaic (PV)
cellthat is placed on the edge of the LSC, facing inward. This paper describes a new design with the
PV cellson the front-face allowing them to receive both direct solar irradiation and wave-guided
photonsemitted from a dye embedded in an acrylic sheet, which is optically coupled to the PV cells.
Parametersinvestigated include the thickness of the waveguide, edge treatment of the window, cell
width, and cellplacement. The data allowed us to make projections that aided in designing windows
for maximizedoverall efficiency. A gain in power of 2.2over the PV cells alone was obtained with PV
cell coverage of5%, and a power conversion efficiency as high as 6.8% was obtained with a PV cell
coverage of 31%.Balancing the trade-offs between gain and efficiency, the design with the lowest
cost per watt attaineda power efficiency of 3.8% and a gain of 1.6.

Keywords: Luminescent solar concentratorLumogen Red 305Building integrated photovoltaicFront-


facing photovoltaic.

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Algal Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com


/locate/alga. 2015

Improving the photo conversion efficiency: An integrated photovoltaic-photo bioreactor system


for microalgal cultivation.

Eleonora Sforza⁎, Elena Barbera, Alberto Bertucco.

One of the main limitations to large-scale production of biofuels derived from micro alge is the lower
efficiency of sunlight conversion. The maximum theoretical value for photosynthetic efficiency is
hardly achieved in real outdoor cultivation systems, mainly due to inefficient light utilization, in
addition to photo saturation and photo in hibition phenomena that take place at high irradiances.
This work is focused on testing different possibil-ities aimed at improving the overall photo
conversion efficiency of microalgal production in photo bi oreactors.Two strategies were followed:
thefirst one increases the portion of spectrum available for photo syn the sisemploying luminescent
spectral-converter filters on the photobioreactor surface, the second one integrates microalgae
reactors with photovoltaic panels, producing electrical energy together with biomass. Experiments
were carried out both in batch and continuous laboratory scale flat-plate photobioreactors, at
different light in-tensities and regimes, with two different species (Nanno chloropsis salinaand
Scene desmus obliquus), measuring the growth rate, pigment content, biomass concentration and
photosynthetic efficiency. Results show that spectral-converters do not substantially improve the
growth rate, while an integrated PV and PBR system could be a valid way to improve energy
conversion performances.
Keywords: Scene desmus obliquus Continuous reactor Light intensity y Photo synthetic efficiency.

SCIENCE DIRET

Algal Research

Evaluation of wavelength selective photovoltaic panels on microalgaegrowth and photosynthetic


efficiency.

Angela M. Detweilera,b, Cécile E. Mionic, Katie L. Hellierd, Jordan J. Allene, Sue A. Carterd, Brad M.
Bebouta,Erich E. Flemingf, Carley Corradod, Leslie E. Prufert-Bebou.

Large-scale cultivation of microalgal biomass in open systems can benefit from the low cost of using
natural sun-light, as opposed to artificial light, but may encounter problems with photoinhibition, high
evaporation rates, po-tential contamination and high energy demand. Wavelength selective luminescent
solar concentrator (LSC)panels can solve some of these problems when incorporated into low-cost
sheltered structures for algal biomass production that concurrently produce their own electricity by
harnessing select portions of solar energy, not used for algal growth. The LSC panels in this study
contained a fluorescent dye, Lumogen Red 305, which transmits blue and red wavelengths used for
photosynthesis with high efficiency, while absorbing the green wave length sand re-emitting them as red
wavelengths. The fluores cently generated red wavelengths are either transmitted to boost algal growth,
or waveguided and captured by photovoltaic cells to be converted into electricity. We found that
different strains of microalgae (currently used commercially) grew equally well under the altered spectra
conditions created by the luminescent panels, compared to growth under the full solar spectrum. Thus
this tech-nology presents a new approach wherein algae can be grown under protected, controlled
conditions, while the cost of operations is offset by the structure's internal electrical production, without
any loss to algal grow thrate or achievable biomass density.

Keywords : Microalgae cultivation Growth rate Wave length selective luminescent solar concentrators
Photovoltaic cells Greenhouse.

Article history: Received 1 December 2014 Received in revised form 22 February 2015 Accepted 4 March
2015 Available online 25 March 2015.

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