Optimization of finger spacing for concentrator photovoltaic cells under non-uniform illumination using SPICE

Pratibha Sharma; Alex Walker; Jeff Wheeldon; Henry Schriemer; Karin Hinzer

doi:10.1117/12.2033340

11 October 2013 Optimization of finger spacing for concentrator photovoltaic cells under non-uniform illumination using SPICE

Pratibha Sharma, Alex Walker, Jeff Wheeldon, Henry Schriemer, Karin Hinzer

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8915, Photonics North 2013; 891505 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2033340
Event: Photonics North 2013, 2013, Ottawa, Canada

Abstract

Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) technology has come a long way, with multi-junction solar cell efficiencies now reaching up to 44.4%. Front contact grid design, crucial for improving efficiency, is typically performed for uniform illumination, but this does not account for the real world conditions of non-homogeneous irradiance distributions. In this work, we aim to optimize finger spacing for a linear grid under non-uniform illumination by using Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis (SPICE) analysis. A two-dimensional distributed resistance model is used to simulate a lattice matched, triple-junction solar cell whose design parameters are determined by curve-fitting current-voltage curves from each sub-cell to a two-diode equivalent-circuit model. Cell efficiency is considered to be a unimodal function that varies with finger spacing so a golden-section search optimization algorithm is used to determine the optimal spacing. Various Gaussian profiles are used to simulate non-uniform illumination and their effects on device performance. Designs based on optimal spacing for non-uniform illumination show an efficiency increase of more than 0.5% absolute at concentrations greater than 500 suns.

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Pratibha Sharma, Alex Walker, Jeff Wheeldon, Henry Schriemer, and Karin Hinzer "Optimization of finger spacing for concentrator photovoltaic cells under non-uniform illumination using SPICE", Proc. SPIE 8915, Photonics North 2013, 891505 (11 October 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2033340

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