Multiband Solar Concentrator using Transmissive Dichroic Beamsplitting

Significant efficiency increases in photovoltaic power conversion are due to improved absorption over the broad spectrum of the sun. Semiconductors have an efficiency peak at a specific wavelength associated with the material band gap. The current trend towards high-efficiency photovoltaics involves multi-junction cells where several semiconductors are grown on top of one another creating a layered device with a broad spectral response. Fabrication is a difficult and expensive process that results in small area solar cells. An alternative approach uses dielectric mirrors to optically separate the incident light by reflecting one spectral band while transmitting another. Spectral splitting is simulated within a 10x non-imaging concentrator. The optical system may be concatenated into large arrays and incorporates two separated ray paths exiting at a common plane. Optimized photovoltaic cells can be interleaved on a single circuit board, improving packaging and thermal management compared to orthogonal arrangements. The entire concentrator can be molded from glass or acrylic and requires a dichroic coating as the only reflector. Average collection efficiencies above 84% are realized within 40°x16° angular acceptance.