Hybrid thermal and electric and thermal solar energy generation based on thin-film optical coatings   (Conference Presentation)

Mohamed El Kabbash; Chunlei Guo; Subhash Singh; Giuseppe Strangi; Michael Hinczewski

doi:10.1117/12.2528363

9 September 2019 Hybrid thermal and electric and thermal solar energy generation based on thin-film optical coatings (Conference Presentation)

Mohamed El Kabbash, Chunlei Guo, Subhash Singh, Giuseppe Strangi, Michael Hinczewski

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11121, New Concepts in Solar and Thermal Radiation Conversion II; 111210C (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2528363
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2019, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Increasing the efficiency and cost effectiveness of solar energy generation allowed them to compete with traditional carbon-based energy sources in many energy markets worldwide. However, a major problem facing the proliferation of solar energy generation is energy storage. Photovoltaic (PV) generators enjoy relatively high efficiency but suffer from high electric energy storage costs. On the other hand, solar-thermal energy conversion enables storing heat and dispatch electricity at lower storage costs but with less efficiency compared to photovoltaics. Hybridizing both solar energy conversion can address the energy storage problem. Furthermore, single junction PVs are unable to convert a large portion of the solar spectrum to energy which eventually lead to PV thermalization. Spectral beam splitting is a promising method to achieve high efficiency solar energy conversion while hybridizing electric and thermal solar energy generation. Here, we use novel thin-film based optical coatings to develop single element selective light reflector/absorber that reflects within the wavelength range corresponding to a PV cell absorption band, while absorbing the remaining solar spectrum. We show that reflecting solar light on a PV cell using a silver mirror is less efficient and has higher temperature compared to using selective light reflector/absorber when using optical concentration exceeding 2 suns. We demonstrate hybrid PV generation and water sanitation/desalination using an Aluminum sheet with thin-film selective light reflector /absorber deposited on one side, while the other side is treated with femtosecond laser to become superwicking.

Conference Presentation

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Mohamed El Kabbash, Chunlei Guo, Subhash Singh, Giuseppe Strangi, and Michael Hinczewski "Hybrid thermal and electric and thermal solar energy generation based on thin-film optical coatings (Conference Presentation)", Proc. SPIE 11121, New Concepts in Solar and Thermal Radiation Conversion II, 111210C (9 September 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2528363

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KEYWORDS

Solar energy

Thin films

Optical coatings

Thin film coatings

Energy efficiency

Solar cells

Photovoltaics

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