Spectral beam splitting in hybrid PV/T parabolic trough systems for power generation

•Spectral beam splitting in hybrid solar CPV/CSP parabolic trough systems explored.•Simultaneous optimization of filter, cell, optics, spectrum, operating temperature.•Beam splitting enhances conversion 45% over typical parabolic trough CSP system.•Economics of hybrid SBS PTC (130 MWCPV + 24 MWCSP w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied energy 2018-01, Vol.209 (C), p.236-250
Main Authors: Widyolar, Bennett, Jiang, Lun, Winston, Roland
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
CPV
CSP
Energy & Fuels
Engineering
Hybrid
Parabolic trough
Solar power
Spectral beam splitting
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Summary:•Spectral beam splitting in hybrid solar CPV/CSP parabolic trough systems explored.•Simultaneous optimization of filter, cell, optics, spectrum, operating temperature.•Beam splitting enhances conversion 45% over typical parabolic trough CSP system.•Economics of hybrid SBS PTC (130 MWCPV + 24 MWCSP w/6 h storage) detailed.•c-Si SBS PTC system using interference filters installed for $2.39/W. The solar-to-electric conversion potential of hybrid solar CPV/CSP parabolic trough collector (PTC) systems incorporating spectral beam splitting (SBS) is examined. Single and novel two-stage PTCs are paired with four different solar cells (c-Si, CdTe, GaAs, InGaP) and simultaneously simulated for the first time with spectral and temperature optimization to maximize solar-to-electric conversion. All cases show improvement, with the limiting case of an ideal, lossless optical filter enhancing conversion efficiency over typical PTC CSP plants by 25% with c-Si and 50% with GaAs. Typical interference (dichroic) filter systems demonstrate greater conversion efficiencies than systems with novel semi-transparent and back-reflecting solar cell beam splitters. Two-stage systems recover high operating temperatures in the CSP subsystem under partial illumination without reducing the overall conversion efficiency, enhancing the dispatchability of the thermal power. Economic analysis reveals a hybrid solar CPV/CSP beam splitting system with interference filters and c-Si cells can be built for $2.39/W. A new economic model comparing hybrid CPV/CSP to side-by-side PV/CSP is presented, demonstrating the limitations of c-Si paired systems and the potential of III-V cell SBS systems.
ISSN:0306-2619
1872-9118
DOI:10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.10.078