| Several novel low concentration solar concentrator photovoltaic designs are presented, based on the planar light guide architecture pioneered by the University of Rochester. These systems are designed for integration into windows, requiring them to be stationary and to have a large acceptance angle since they cannot move to track the sun. The application goal is to use solar generated electricity to offset the energy lost through the window during cold times of the year. The systems are evaluated for their effective insulation properties given the calculated net energy lost. Without moving parts, they optimize to have acceptance angles of about 20° to 35° in the vertical direction and +/-90° in the horizontal direction, but have peak optical efficiencies of less than 50%. By including internally moving parts, the acceptance angle is increased to nearly a full pi steradians (the full sky from the point of view of the window) and the average optical efficiency increases to over 50%. Systems in certain locations are not viable due to low solar irradiance in the wintertime, e.g., Rochester, NY. Others, however, reduce net energy loss to zero for much of the year. A prototype of one of the systems is fabricated, measured, and modeled. The simulated and measured performance data are compared and are in close agreement, validating the model and the evaluation methods used during system optimization. |
