PV Concentrator
In the PV industry, a concentrator is a mirror that reflects additional sun to the PV modules. The concentrator enhances the efficiency of the PV modules, by getting more sun produce more electricity. The concentrators can be produced from various materials such as stainless steel, aluminum alloys, silver coated polymers or silver coated hardened glass.
A LOW COST TRACKING CONCENTRATOR
A soft V- type concentrator (C=1.7 -2.0) tracking system can double the PV energy production when compared with fixed panels and substantially reduce the price of the PV system.
Our tracking-concentrator system combines simple low-cost single axis tracker with booster mirrors, the V-type concentrators. On our combined single axis tracking concentrator, the mirror doesn’t need to be extended beyond PV panels. Our polar axis trackers with the seasonally adjustable slope of the horizontal and polar axis ensures uniform illumination of the panels from the concentrators adjusted to the correct elevation of the sun.
It is advantageous that soft concentrators for photovoltaics do not need highly specula expensive mirrors. Weather resistant (at least 10 years) mirrors with high total reflectance are needed.
The mirror can be made of:
The new tracking concentrator is compact and simple and reliable. Proven existing tracker hardware is used. The ridge concentrator is easily scalable to accommodate from 2 small PV panels (170Wp) up to 20 PV panels with 330 Wp output power. Application of the ridge concentrator on different tracking systems is also very easy. It can be used on polar or horizontal single axis trackers, two axis trackers as well as on 360o trackers for space and terrestrial applications.
Concentration ratio (1.7-2.0) reduces temperature of PV panels (higher efficiency) and avoids degradation of the encapsulation materials of the panel. The new design also improves (against V-through) air flow around PV panels (improved cooling). The new tracking ridge concentrator can double annual energy harvest (100% energy surplus in arid climates like e.g. northern Africa, Arabia, Arizona or western Australia, 80% in central Europe) in comparison with fixed panels and pumping capacity surplus can be as high as 130%.
The tracking concentrator is very compact, simple and reliable.
For further info about concentrators, please get in touch with us:
sales@everlight-solar.com
We will be glad to consult your needs.