Numerical simulation results and modeling on the electrical features of concentrating photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) using the free circuit simulation package from linear technology corporation (LTSPICE) are presented. The effects of partial shading of cell strings and temperature are analyzed, showing very good agreement with the results obtained experimentally in lab, at Lisbon University, and under outdoor testing using similar receivers, at the SME Solarus Sunpower AB, a Swedish company whose mission is the development, production, and marketing of concentrated solar technology to the world market. The potential of the used methodology for the design of the solar cell configuration is emphasized as an important tool to optimize PV and PVT performances in the energy conversion process.

Issue Section:
Technical Brief
Keywords:
Collector, Photovoltaics, Simulation, Solar receiver
Topics:
Circuits, Shades and shadows, Simulation, Solar cells, Solar energy, Temperature, String

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