Nonimaging achromatic shaped Fresnel lenses for ultrahigh solar concentration

in Optics Letters (2013), 38(10), 1730-1732

The maximum concentration ratio achievable with a solar concentrator made of a single refractive primary optics is much more limited by the chromatic aberration than by any other aberration. Therefore ... [plus ▼]

The maximum concentration ratio achievable with a solar concentrator made of a single refractive primary optics is much more limited by the chromatic aberration than by any other aberration. Therefore achromatic doublets made with poly(methyl methacrylate) and polycarbonate are of great interest to enhance the concentration ratio and to achieve a spectrally uniform flux on the receiver. In this Letter, shaped achromatic Fresnel lenses are investigated. One lossless design is of high interest since it provides spectrally and spatially uniform flux without being affected by soiling problems. With this design an optical concentration ratio of about 8500× can be achieved. [moins ▲]

Achromatization of nonimaging Fresnel lenses for photovoltaic solar concentration using refractive and diffractive patterns

Thèse de doctorat (2012)

In the field of concentrated photovoltaics, the main disadvantage of lenses compared to mirrors lies in their chromaticity: Snell's law is related to the refractive index which is wavelength dependent ... [plus ▼]

In the field of concentrated photovoltaics, the main disadvantage of lenses compared to mirrors lies in their chromaticity: Snell's law is related to the refractive index which is wavelength dependent. Consequently, even for purely collimated beams under normal incidence, the maximum concentration achievable with typical lenses made of PMMA is limited to ~1000×. This maximum value becomes even lower when considering Sun's angular aperture. Since the law of reflection is not wavelength dependent, mirrors can theoretically achieve the thermodynamic limit of concentration which is about 46'000×. This thesis aims at the design and the manufacturing of an achromatic Fresnel lens suitable for photovoltaic solar concentration, i.e. combining high concentration, low production cost and tolerance to manufacturing errors. Firstly, we investigated a hybrid lens made of a refractive lens and a diffractive lens. The investigations showed that the concentration ratio could be multiplied by 4. A full chapter is dedicated to the optimisation of blazed diffraction gratings to finally achieve the design of the diffractive lens. Nevertheless, a bilayer diffractive lens is needed to obtain a high diffraction efficiency which makes the diffractive lens highly sensitive to manufacturing errors and consequently not suitable for photovoltaic solar concentration. Purely refractive achromatic Fresnel doublets were then investigated and several designs were compared. They allow for very high concentration ratios in the case of collimated beams under normal incidence, higher than 100'000×. Therefore, contrary to singlets, Fresnel doublets are much more affected by the angular size of the source than by the chromatic aberration. Moreover, it was shown that they are tolerant to manufacturing error, change of temperature and uncertainty on the refractive index. It emerges from this thesis that the concept of achromatic doublets is a tolerant and low-cost production solution to achieve a highly concentrated white flux. Although bilayer diffractive lenses are not suitable for concentrated photovoltaics, the combination of refractive with diffractive structures seems to be promised to a bright future for spectrum splitting applications, including spectrum splitting for concentrated photovoltaics. [moins ▲]

Study of a solar concentrator for space based on a diffractive/refractive optical combination

Communication orale (2012, November 12)

This paper presents a new design of a planar solar concentrator at 10× with spectral splitting focusing on two separated PV cells, allowing independent control. Optical elements, blazed diffraction ... [plus ▼]

This paper presents a new design of a planar solar concentrator at 10× with spectral splitting focusing on two separated PV cells, allowing independent control. Optical elements, blazed diffraction grating and Fresnel lens, are optimized. [moins ▲]

Experimental Results of Flat Fresnel Doublets made of PMMA and PC

Communication orale (2012, April)

To reduce the chromatic aberration lots of imaging systems like cameras and telescopes turn to achromatic doublets. On the other hand, to be cheaper, lighter and thinner, more and more systems like ... [plus ▼]

To reduce the chromatic aberration lots of imaging systems like cameras and telescopes turn to achromatic doublets. On the other hand, to be cheaper, lighter and thinner, more and more systems like projectors and headlights use Fresnel lenses. To combine high performances and low cost, the use achromatic Fresnel doublets has been investigated. [moins ▲]

Experimental Results of Hybrid and Refractive Achromatic Doublets Made of PC and PMMA

Communication orale (2012)

Flat Fresnel doublets made of PMMA and PC: combining low cost production and very high concentration ratio for CPV

in Optics Express (2011), 19(S3), 280-294

The linear chromatic aberration (LCA) of several combinations of polycarbonates (PCs) and poly (methyl methacrylates) (PMMAs) as singlet, hybrid (refractive/diffractive) lenses and doublets operating with ... [plus ▼]

The linear chromatic aberration (LCA) of several combinations of polycarbonates (PCs) and poly (methyl methacrylates) (PMMAs) as singlet, hybrid (refractive/diffractive) lenses and doublets operating with wavelengths between 380 and 1600 nm – corresponding to a typical zone of interest of concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) – are compared. Those comparisons show that the maximum theoretical concentration factor for singlets is limited to about 1000 × at normal incidence and that hybrid lenses and refractive doublets present a smaller LCA increasing the concentration factor up to 5000 × and 2 × 106 respectively. A new achromatization equation more useful than the Abbé equation is also presented. Finally we determined the ideal position of the focal point as a function of the LCA and the geometric concentration which maximizes the flux on the solar cell. [moins ▲]

Achromatization of solar concentrator thanks to diffractive optics

Communication orale (2009)

Refractive solar concentrators suffer from important chromatic aberration. To enhance solar cell performance and increase the concentrating ratio, we propose an hybrid (diffractive/refractive) lens which ... [plus ▼]

Refractive solar concentrators suffer from important chromatic aberration. To enhance solar cell performance and increase the concentrating ratio, we propose an hybrid (diffractive/refractive) lens which allows a more uniform flux density and an achromatized (in the sense of achromatic doublet) illumination of the cell. To solve the problem of high diffraction efficiency, we turn to multilayer diffractive lenses to have broadband high diffraction efficiency optimized on solar spectrum. Rigorous coupled wave analysis simulations were performed in order to check the validity of scalar theory, they led to a new order of magnitude for the ratio period/wavelength which has been found to be around 100 in place of 10. [moins ▲]