Experimental performance of a fresnel-transmission pvt concentrator for building-façade integration

Abstract

A building-façade integrated concentrating photovoltaic-thermal system has been designed, constructed and experimentally characterised. Comparative performances with a non-concentration reference unit have been conducted to analyse the differential outputs. The concentrating system consists of double-side reflective strips which concentrate the incident beam towards a static photovoltaic-thermal receiver. The reflectors are placed vertically at the façade and track the sun by rotating axially. The concentrating reflector outperforms the reference one in both, thermal and electrical power. The thermal output of the concentration module almost doubles the reference one and the electrical power registered is more than 4.5 times in the case of the concentrating configuration.

The authors would like to acknowledge the funding from “Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad” of Spain (grants ENE2013-48325-R and BES-2014-069596). The authors would also like to thank networking support by the COST Action TU1205 Building Integration of Solar Thermal Systems.