Computational Study of a Fixed Orientation Photovoltaic Compound Parabolic Concentrator

Abstract

The computer program called Solar_PVHFC has been modified to model a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) that uses photovoltaic cells to produce electrical energy. This program was used to study the effects of concentration ratio, truncation height ratio, and photovoltaic cell efficiency on electrical power output and relative levelized cost of energy (LCE) of a fixed CPC photovoltaic device. Comparisons are made to fixed, conventional flat photovoltaic panels. This study indicates that CPCs can reduce the levelized cost of electrical energy produced by high efficiency, high cost photovoltaic cells, but provides no advantages for lower efficiency, lower price photovoltaic cells.