Design of a multiplexer to characterize individual optics at a concentrating photovoltaic test site

Matthew Wilkins; Richard Beal; Joan E. Haysom; Jeffrey F. Wheeldon; Philippe Mulet; Graeme Jamieson; Nashed Youssef; Dhan Balachandreswaran; Jennifer Fan; Trevor Hall; Stefan Myrskog; Karin Hinzer

doi:10.1117/12.906246

8 September 2011 Design of a multiplexer to characterize individual optics at a concentrating photovoltaic test site

Matthew Wilkins, Richard Beal, Joan E. Haysom, Jeffrey F. Wheeldon, Philippe Mulet, Graeme Jamieson, Nashed Youssef, Dhan Balachandreswaran, Jennifer Fan, Trevor Hall, Stefan Myrskog, Karin Hinzer

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8007, Photonics North 2011; 800725 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.906246
Event: Photonics North 2011, 2011, Ottawa, Canada

Abstract

An on-sun Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) test site with a multiplexed current-voltage measurement capability has been installed at the University of Ottawa. Herein, we present details of the instrumentation, which is designed to provide in-situ I-V measurements of individual solar cells within a functioning, series connected, string. A 4-wire multiplexing system enables current-voltage measurements of individual cells. Where other multi-cell test systems have left cells at open-circuit or connected to a fixed resistor when not selected by the multiplexer, in this system each test cell operates within a string of cells controlled by a maximum power point tracker. This allows us to maintain the test cells at realistic operating conditions for all irradiance conditions. Using the current-voltage data, a range of parameters of interest can be monitored over time, including the solar cell temperature, photovoltaic efficiency and optical efficiency. This information is correlated with time-synchronized spectrometer and pyrheliometer data, allowing automated collection of performance data from several strings of optic/solar cell assemblies. The test site includes two 20m², dual-axis, ring mounted solar trackers and is being used to test new CPV systems which incorporate novel lightguiding optics designed and manufactured by Morgan Solar Inc.

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Matthew Wilkins, Richard Beal, Joan E. Haysom, Jeffrey F. Wheeldon, Philippe Mulet, Graeme Jamieson, Nashed Youssef, Dhan Balachandreswaran, Jennifer Fan, Trevor Hall, Stefan Myrskog, and Karin Hinzer "Design of a multiplexer to characterize individual optics at a concentrating photovoltaic test site", Proc. SPIE 8007, Photonics North 2011, 800725 (8 September 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.906246

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