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System Advisor Model (SAM)

Concentrated Solar Power with multijunction cells

jbauer
Topic Author

21 Mar 2016 21:53 #4178 by jbauer

Concentrated Solar Power with multijunction cells was created by jbauer

Hello! Do you have a SAM case using concentrated PV and thermal with Frenel lenses and multijunction cells in flat panels installed on dual axis trackers? If not, is it possible to use any other existent case to get an approximate result?
Thanks indeed for your answer,

Jorge

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Stefan Troger

09 Apr 2016 10:08 #4179 by Stefan Troger

Replied by Stefan Troger on topic Concentrated Solar Power with multijunction cells

Hello!

I´m working on a similar project as jbauer mentioned and I also have a few questions to it.
My problem is that i want to enter specific module databases or electrical specifications from a triple junction cell.
Similar to the Specifications I can enter in detailed photovoltaic projects with CEC Performance Model with User Entered Specifications.
The main problem is that the maximum power (Pmp) doesn´t match with the specifications I got from the cell datasheet.

Is there a possibility to enter cell specifications from a datasheet in high concentrated photovoltaic projects?
Why is the maximum power (Pmp) in HCPV projects calculated by Irradiance, efficiency and losses and no electrical data are included?
Is it representative if I put my electrical data of the triple-junction cell in a detailed photovoltaic project?

BR Stefan

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pgilman

11 Apr 2016 21:00 #4180 by pgilman

Replied by pgilman on topic Concentrated Solar Power with multijunction cells

Dear Jorge,

SAM does not have a model that combines thermal and photovoltaic collectors. I don't think there is a way to model the kind of system you describe.

Best regards,
Paul.

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pgilman

11 Apr 2016 21:06 #4181 by pgilman

Replied by pgilman on topic Concentrated Solar Power with multijunction cells

Dear Stefan,

SAM's HCPV model is a relatively simple representation of the performance of a high-concentration photovoltaic collector.

SAM does not have an equivalent to the CEC performance model for flat-plate modules. The equation for the HCPV Pmp value is in the Help system, so you should be able to use that information to approximate the module you are trying to model.

The cell efficiency table is the only information the model has about the module's electrical performance.

Best regards,
Paul.

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nkabouche

31 Aug 2017 13:20 #4182 by nkabouche

Replied by nkabouche on topic Concentrated Solar Power with multijunction cells

Dear Paul,

I would like to use SAM to determine the net DC power that an HCPV system and a PV system could produce in a specified site. So, I have some question and assumption:
- Is the tracker in HCPV, by default, a 2-axis one?
- I presume that this HCPV is a point focus one, with Fresnel lenses;
- In the result of simulation: what is the difference or relation between Input radiation (kWh) and POA on cell (W/m2)?
- Does the value given, by default, to the module correspond to a real HCPV, if so what is it
- How can I use an existing HCPV data e.g. SOITEC CX-M500 CPV, especially the cell efficiency table

Best regards

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pgilman

31 Aug 2017 20:03 #4183 by pgilman

Replied by pgilman on topic Concentrated Solar Power with multijunction cells

Hello,

1. Yes. SAM's HCPV model assumes that the tracker is 2-axis with no limits to the extent of its rotation.

2. The model makes no assumptions about the type of concentrator. You provide the concentration ratio with loss factors to describe its optical characteristics.

3. The input radiation is a value SAM reports for reference. It is not used to calculate the system's output. It is calculated as

Input Radiation = DNI (W/m2) * Module Area (m2) * Number of Modules per Tracker * Number of Trackers / 1000 (W/kWh)

. The POA on cell value is the irradiance incident on the cell adjusted by air mass modifier, soiling, shade derate, optical error and alignment error.

4. No. The default values are a starting point for your analysis, and are not based on a specific system.

5. To model a commercially-available collector in SAM, you will need data from an efficiency curve from the manufacturer or another source.

Best regards,
Paul.

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