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ISSN Online: 2377-424X

International Heat Transfer Conference 12
August, 18-23, 2002, Grenoble, France

Thermodynamic evaluation of solar radiation conversion devices

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC12.220
6 pages

Sinopsis

The paper reports on a thermodynamic analysis of the conversion efficiency of a photovoltaic cell under realistic irradiation conditions. The calculation procedure is summarized and an atmospheric model for the incoming radiation is outlined. This atmosphere model gives the direct and the diffuse part of the solar radiation as well as the degree of polarization as a function of solid angle and wavelength for different boundary conditions. Circumsolar radiation and horizon brightening is considered also. The paper then shows and discusses calculation results for the entropy production rate and the conversion efficiency with different atmospheric conditions for this example of a solar conversion device.
These calculations are useful for an optimisation of optical properties for the surface material of the conversion devices. Contrary to the atmospheric conditions, which can not be influenced, the optical properties of surfaces can be adjusted for example by coating and/or microstructuring.