Simulations of geometry effects and loss mechanisms affecting the photon collection in photovoltaic fluorescent collectors

¹ Institut für Photovoltaik, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 47, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
² IEK5-Photovoltaik, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany

^a e-mail: liv.proenneke@ipv.uni-stuttgart.de

Received: 29 August 2011
Accepted: 29 February 2012
Published online: 26 June 2012

Abstract

Monte-Carlo simulations analyze the photon collection in photovoltaic systems with fluorescent collectors. We compare two collector geometries: the classical setup with solar cells mounted at each collector side and solar cells covering the collector back surface. For small ratios of collector length and thickness, the collection probability of photons is equally high in systems with solar cells mounted on the sides or at the bottom of the collector. We apply a photonic band stop filter acting as an energy selective filter which prevents photons emitted by the dye from leaving the collector. We find that the application of such a filter allows covering only 1% of the collector side or bottom area with solar cells. Furthermore, we compare ideal systems in their radiative limits to systems with included loss mechanisms in the dye, at the mirror, or the photonic filter. Examining loss mechanisms in photovoltaic systems with fluorescent collectors enables us to estimate quality limitations of the used materials and components.