Passive tracking and combined photovoltaics with solar-thermal capture using simple 3D optical structures

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

We present a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) system. This system utilizes a thermal fluid in a tubular geometry to act both as an infrared absorber and an optical lens. The optical lens then focuses light onto a PV fixed to the back of the glass tubing. The result is a capture of both PV and thermal energy for the system. In this work, multiple thermal fluids are tested to compare PV efficiency as a function of angle as well as thermal capture. We show that using higher index thermal fluids in our system has the ability to enhance PV energy production when compared to traditionally flat panels. Increases of approximately 98.1% in electrical energy generated over the span of 12 h for the tubular structure, compared with that of the planar, can be added to the heat captured by the thermal fluid. This provides an inexpensive approach to high density solar power generation.