Photoenergy system with a concentrator of solar radiation

Scientists who are going to participate in the project:
Sokol Yevgeny I., Professor, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Vice-rector National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» (NTU «KhPI»);
Khrypunov Gennady S., Professor, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Head of the Materials for electronics and solar cells department (MESC), National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» (NTU «KhPI»);
Zaitsev Roman V., Ph.D., Associate Professor of the Materials for electronics and solar cells department (MESC), National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» (NTU «KhPI»);
Kirichenko Mikhail V., Ph.D., Researcher of the Materials for electronics and solar cells department (MESC), National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» (NTU «KhPI»);
Yeresko Alexander V., Ph.D., Associate Professor of the Industrial and biomedical electronics department, National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» (NTU «KhPI»);
Nikitin Victor A., Researcher of the Materials for electronics and solar cells department (MESC), National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» (NTU «KhPI»);
Kudiy Dmitriy A., Ph.D., Senior Lecturer of the Materials for electronics and solar cells department (MESC), National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» (NTU «KhPI»).

Keywords:
Photoenergy system, concentrator of solar radiation, photovoltaic (PV) module, microprocessor.

Abstract:
The prerequisites for the development of the project is that global trends in the energy market and the related increase in the consumption of natural energy resources clearly show the need to find additional sources of energy, one of which is solar energy. One way of solving this problem is related to the conversion of solar energy into electrical energy by means of semiconductor photovoltaic cells. Along with electricity, solar collectors produce not less energy, which have already become commonplace in Russia and Ukraine, and more and more people are using them to produce hot water and heating systems. For solar photovoltaic system is proposed to develop a highly economical hub of solar radiation and positioning systems and waste heat energy to increase its effectiveness. The principal differences between the ideas of the project include the use of low-cost high-efficiency multijunction photovoltaic cells based on the structure of InGaP/InGaAs/Ge with an efficiency level of 36 % and a hub of solar radiation on the basis of easy and inexpensive parabolic segments of polystyrene and mount them on the surface of the segments of parabolic-cylindrical shape of the thin metal foil as the reflective coating. With large-scale production and widespread use of the proposed facilities to obtain these advantages allow solar electricity at a cost of about $ 0,1 kW∙h.

Project Idea:
Based on a critical analysis of existing designs of heat exchangers the optimal design of the heat exchange unit for efficient conversion of solar energy into thermal energy will be calculated. For this heat exchanger the design must ensure turbulent flow of the coolant, which will increase the heat transfer coefficient over 20,000. To achieve the desired thermal characteristics a mathematical model of heat exchange processes will be established in a block to determine the conditions for the realization of the turbulent flow. A circuit solution will be developed to organize individual industrial samples of solar cells based on gallium arsenide with efficiency up to 36 % as parts of a mini solar battery. It is planned to develop thin film heterostructures for a thermal contact of solar battery with the heat exchange unit, which will provide the necessary adhesion to the module surface alongside with dielectric strength and thermal conductivity with the aim to create an experimental sample of the PV module. An optimal choice of for the accumulation of thermal energy components system required for the storage of certain power of the generated thermal energy and for its further use will be conducted. An optimal choice of components required for the storage of certain power of the generated thermal energy and for its further use will be conducted. Sketch project documentation for the experimental sample of thermal energy storage system will be prepared. According to the mathematical modeling results optimal structural and electrical circuit control system will be designed and created. The control system will include digital components and microprocessors. Algorithm of the control system will be developed. The advantage of the algorithm of this system is the orientation of its position relative to global coordinates obtained from GPS satellites, which eliminates the need for the customization and gives control systems without reprogramming of the installation when placed in different regions or if it changes its position.

A list of organizations that are ready to join the project (if any)
N. Zhukovsky National Aerospace University «Kharkiv Aviation Institute»; Ukraine and National Taras Shevchenko University, Kyiv, Ukraine are already involved.

 

Scientific novelty:
The principal differences of the ideas of the Project to establish a photovoltaic installation are innovative economic and constructive approaches. In the last several years, China has mastered the industrial production of multijunction photovoltaic cells based on the structure In-GaP/InGaAs/Ge. Such devices with 1 cm2 area of the frontal surface cost $ 10 have an efficiency level of 36 % and maximum power delivered to the load 17 W/cm2 at 470-fold concentration of solar radiation on the surface of the photodetector. They differ in a stable operation under concentrated solar radiation and, most importantly, have a working temperature reaching 70 oC. The last significantly reduces the requirements for the cooling system, allowing its simplification and reduction the cost of its construction. In the Project to reduce the cost of the concentrator while maintaining high optical characteristics an easy and cheap aluminum foil of Alanod brand with a reflection coefficient of 95 % will be used. Reducing the cost of the concentrator while maintaining the technical specifications for its use in the construction of the concentrator photovoltaic installation (concentration, diameter of the hub, incoming radiation angle, focal spot diameter) is planned to reach by the replacement of the massive metal edges and metal parabolic segments of the classical hub on the light polystyrene edges and by the mounting of the segments with parabolic-cylindrical shape made of thin metal foil of Alanod firm on their surface as reflective coatings. With their large-scale production and widespread use these advantages allow receiving solar power cost about $ 0,1 per kW∙h. Cost of materials for the manufacture of the photovoltaic installation will be about $ 2000. Price of one photovoltaic installation will be about $ 2700, taking into account the cost of production. Social benefits of the results obtaining in the Project is to build innovative photovoltaic installation on existing domestic enterprises, which competitiveness in the foreign market is provided by the electricity cost reduction, increase in its average daily generation and utilization of heat energy for the needs of the users.

List of the most significant publications in the international journals included in the Scopus database (if any):
1. G. Khrypunov, T. Shelest, T. Li, A. Meriuts, N. Kovtun, A. Makarov, L. Avksentyeva. Thin films CdS/CdTe solar cells with different activation processes base layer, Semiconductor Physics, Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics.-V.14, №1, p. 47-55 (2011).

  1. G. Khrypunov, A. Meriuts, T. Shelest, N. Deineko, N. Klyui, L. Avksentyeva, V. Gorbulik. The role of copper in bifacial CdTe solar cells Semiconductor Physics, Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics.- V.14, № 3 P. 308-312 (2011).
  2. Meriuts A.V., Khrypunov G. S., Shelest T. N., and Deyneko N. V. Features of the Light Current–Voltage Characteristics of Bifacial Solar Cells Based on Thin CdTe, Layers Semiconductors, Vol. 44, № 6, pp. 801–804 (2010). Included in the database SCOPUS.
  3. Khrypunov G.S., Meryuts A.V. Analysis of diode characteristics of film solar cells based on CdTe, Ukrainian Journal of Physics. -V.49, № 12. — P. 1188-1191 (2004).
  4. Kirichenko M.V., Zaitsev R.V., Kopach V.R. Advanced methods of increasing and monitoring the lifetime of nonequilibrium minority charge carriers in master dies for high-performance silicon solar cells, Telecommunications and radio engineering – 2010, -Vol. 69, — No.5. – P. 441 – 450. Included in the database SCOPUS.
  5. E.I. Sokol, V.R. Kopach, R.V. Zaitsev, M.V. Kirichenko, A.V. Meriuts, G.S. Khrypunov Physical — technical features and limit the feasibility of photo-energy equipment module of the new generation in Ukraine, Renewable Energy, — No. 2 (25). — P. 18 — 28 (2011).
  6. G.S. Khrypunov, V.R. Kopach, A.V. Meriuts, R.V. Zaitsev, M.V. Kirichenko, N.V. Deyneko The influence of prolonged storage and forward-polarity voltage on the efficiency of CdS/CdTe-based film solar cells, Semiconductors, – V. 45., No. 11. – P. 1505 – 1511 (2011). Included in the database SCOPUS.

Expected results:
According to the results of the Project an experimental model of the photoenergetic installation based on photovoltaic cells on the GaAs compound basis will be created. The sketch design documentation for the photoenergetic installation including drawings of photovoltaic module and the hub, wiring diagrams of positioning and control system, a block diagram of algorithm of their operation, a set of documents of sketch design of the photoenergetic installation, electrical wiring of the hardware complex of the photoenergetic installation and block diagram of the operation will be created. It is supposed to create the Project semi-industrial sample of the photoenergetic installation.

Contacts:
Kudiy Dmitriy, Senior Lecturer, Ph.D., Materials for electronics and solar cells department (MESC), National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» (NTU «KhPI»), 21, Frunze str., 61002 Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Correspondent Address: 61098, Cherednichenkovsky lane, 7, Apt. 453, Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Email: kudiy@ukr.net.
Phone: +380955809561.