A Novel Hexagonal Beam Steering Electrowetting Device for Solar Energy Concentration

Traditional tracking devices for solar energy applications have several disadvantages, such as bulky mechanical structure, large wind loads, and ease of misalignment. This study aims to design a flat, thin, and adaptive beam steering device to eliminate these drawbacks. A proof of concept device was...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Micromachines (Basel) 2020-11, Vol.11 (11), p.1016
Main Authors: Khan, Iftekhar, Castelletto, Stefania, Rosengarten, Gary
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptive control
Alternative energy sources
Beam steering
Contact angle
Design
Dielectric properties
Electrodes
electrowetting
Glass substrates
Hexagonal cells
Investigations
Laser beams
liquid lens
Liquids
Misalignment
Photovoltaic cells
Refractivity
Roofs
Solar energy
solar energy concentration
Sun
Three dimensional models
Tracking devices
Wind loads
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Summary:Traditional tracking devices for solar energy applications have several disadvantages, such as bulky mechanical structure, large wind loads, and ease of misalignment. This study aims to design a flat, thin, and adaptive beam steering device to eliminate these drawbacks. A proof of concept device was fabricated to demonstrate this design. The novelty of the proof of concept device is the hexagonal structure of the electrowetting cell design. The hexagonal cell was dosed with two immiscible liquids with different refractive indices. The hypothesis of this design is that by deforming the liquid shape with the application of voltage, light can be steered and concentrated for solar energy applications. A maximum contact angle change of 44° was observed with the application of 26 V to one of the electrodes of the hexagonal cell. The device demonstrated a 4.5° change of laser beam path with only a 0.2 refractive index difference of the liquids. The 3D simulation model developed in this study shows that a tilted and flat interface can be achieved using higher dielectric constant dielectric materials. The device can facilitate the planer steering and concentration of sunlight for rooftop applications without moving mechanical parts.
ISSN:2072-666X
2072-666X
DOI:10.3390/mi11111016