Liquid solar array PV concentrator
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Date
2016-05
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Publisher
AIKTC
Abstract
PV concentrators appear to offer significant potential saving cost. However, to date the potential
saving have not yet realized due to complexities arising mainly from the mass of the physical
structure needed to provide adequate support from the concentrator, cells and tracking
mechanism in adverse weather condition.
This report shows a mean whereby all major limitations, and cost, may be considered reduced by
adopting a configuration, termed the “Liquid Solar Array” (LSA) where each element of floating
array comprises a raft supporting solar tracking lens in partially-submerged water cooled PV cell
assembly. An important feature of LSA is that lens can be submerged in windy conditions
thereby reducing structural requirements in comparison to PV concentrator cell arrays. The paper
shows that the LSA structural cost saving outweigh the cost any associated complications and
lead to a projected capital cost of under US$1 per watt.
The LSA mimics techniques employed by some plants that lie down to accommodate the wind,
and others such as the Lotus flower that emerge from the water completely dry.
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Project Report - EE