3D Solar Cells

The fourth design

3D-CPV (silicon)

Despite the many disadvantages of silicon cells in 3D mode such as small reflectivity, small transmission, lack of flexibility, high cost and need a cooling system. But there is one advantage that makes us stick to silicon cells, it is the long life of these cells, this technique has been tested for fifty years it works nonstop.

As for the organic cells it is of the third generation is still modern no one knows her default age, so my fourth design will be of silicon cells but because silicon cells are solid, the design will be somewhat complex.

The first step is to build 3D cells of silicon. We arrange the flat silicon cells (Efficiently 25%) on mirrors to be a small solar modules, with width of 5 centimeters or 3 centimeters and length one meter (On drawing the length half a meter).

Then we arrange the modules in three patterns where each pattern representing a measure of the 3D cell (the scale is the total width of modules that are built the 3D cell). 

The first pattern is 3D cell with scale (15cm) consists of 3 solar modules with width (5cm)

The second pattern is 3D cell with scale (11cm) consists of 2 solar modules with width (3cm) and other with width (5cm)

The third pattern is 3D cell with scale (9cm) consists of 3 solar modules with width (3cm)

After that we convert every pattern from flat shape to pyramidal shape and put a flat reflective lens on top of the pyramidal shape, then weld the ends of the mod- ules and lens with each other in every pattern with silicone glass glue as in the drawing.

 The cell shown in the drawing here with scale 15 cm Pyramidal shape, which prevents exit reflected light from 3D cell and lifts the cell efficiency 16% to become 41 % 

The reflective Lens: The reflective lens in a cooling system, reflect thermal radiation, which works on heating the cell, the lens made of a particular type of solar control glass (Kristal Bond).

It can reflect most of the thermal radiation and allows the passage of cell spectrum that produces electricity so it keeps on the cell efficiency of 41 % in concentrations from 10 to 18 Suns, the lens is inexpensive because we use a very small amount of solar control glass The dimensions of the lens are:-

Width: 5 mm 

Thickness: 3 mm

Length: 1 meter (cell length) 

Frames: Frames are made of plastic with different diameters depending on the cell scale, the frames working to install the 3D cell with cover of cell.

Side mirrors are placed on the edge of 3D cell and works to prevent reflections of sunlight from coming out of the 3D cell and also prevent the entry of dust.

Cylindrical casing is made of aluminum and cover both sides of plastic circles, the aluminum casing and plastic circles working to protect the 3D cell and this is the final shape of the 3D cell.

3D-CPVT (silicon)

The water cooling system is what makes the 3D cell a hybrid, so we must cancel the reflective lens as a cooling system, and we use a lens like the one used in the first design with water cooling system.

The water cooling system consists of three slices of copper, one on each solar module as shown in Figure working as copper absorber and three copper pipes above the copper slices, the heat travels from 3D cell to the absorber then pipes and then into water and finally outside the cell to solar tank. Copper pipes sizes, Diameter 10 mm (1cm), Length 1000mm (100cm)

Frames made of Poly Propylene because his melting point 146 Celsius and we make it with different diameters depending on the cell scale. The frames working to install each of the 3D cell, copper absorber, copper pipes and the cover of cell together.

Side mirrors and thermal insulator between the frames to prevent heat transfer from the hybrid 3D cell to the surrounding medium.

Cylindrical casing is made of aluminum working to protect the 3D cell, with two plastic circles cover both sides of casing.

Types of solar collectors which are used with 3D-CPV 

• The parabolic mirrors,it can be used with 3D cells orhybrid3D cells.
• Fresnellens system, used only withhybrid3D cells.
• Luminescentglass, it can be used with 3D cells orhybrid3D cells.

3D-LSCPV (silicon)

Solar collector from luminescent glass it can be used with both the first and fourth design, but I prefer to use it with fourth design, because the fourth design from silicon cells, which have a long life commensurate with the age of the building. We can use the luminescent glass with 3D silicon cells, you can get the lighting for each building and the electricity is efficient enough for the building, install luminescent glass in place of lens, we use in this case luminescent glass with film eliminates unwanted wavelengths as previously mentioned.

We can also use the luminescent glass with hybrid 3D silicon cells, the system will be the most complex but it will be the system that achieves the best exploitation of solar energy.

Here, the system gives you lighting and electricity with high efficiency and warm water from windows of buildings without feeling even the existence of solar cells and at a lower cost, but in this case we use luminescent glass that does not cancel the wavelengths that turn to heat.

1. Solar Energy Systems
2. Solar Cell | Photovoltaic Cell
3. Solar Concentrator PV Systems
4. 3D Solar Cells
5. 3D Solar Cell Systems
6. Electrical Specifications of PV Modules
7. Standard Test Conditions for PV Modules
8. PV Arry Charge Controllers
9. Sizing a Grid-Direct PV System
10. Sizing a Battery-Based PV System
11. Site Survey for PV Installation
12. Understanding Solar Radiation for PV Installlation
13. Concentrating Solar Collectors
14. Solar Energy Systems
15. Solar Panel Working Principle