Analysis and Implementation of a New Method to Increase the Efficiency of Photovoltaic Cells by Applying a Dual Axis Sun Tracking System and Fresnel Lens Array

Abstract

Nowadays conversion efficiency of photovoltaic (PV)equipment is considered as an important issue. In thisarticle, the effects of a semi-Fresnel lens as a convergentstructure will be simulated in COMSOL Multiphysicssoftware and the results would make improvements in thecharacteristic responses of PV cells which are verifiedwith our experimental results. Besides, because the grooveangles of the semi-Fresnel lens are calculated based on theorthogonal sun rays, a novel dual-axis sun tracking systemhas been designed and constructed for panel orientationadjustment. So, the sun rays always radiate at the sameefficient angles on PV cells. This issue leads to a reductionin light concentration area, the total area of the cells andtheir costs. Results show a significant improvement inoutput power of the PV cells array in comparison to theprevious study by more than 2.5 times. Also, the effectivetime of cell performance from sunrise to sunset, extendslonger during a day, regardless of location and time zone.

Keywords

• comsol multiphysics
• semi-fresnel lens
• solar cell
• sun tracking system