<Reflections>
My original plan at first was to compare spherical, plane and parabolic reflectors but I had difficulties getting plane and spherical reflectors for my experiment so I had to modify my plans. However, by comparing parabolic reflectors with different curvature, I also got to find out how specific elements greatly affect the light absorbance of solar cells and was easy to implement other elements into the experiment as well. Moreover, I wasn’t sure how I could set up the experiment to test the effect of Fresnel lenses but eventually, I decided to use two parabolic reflectors for the light rays to pass through the lenses. Overall, this project not only allowed me to gain deeper knowledge in maximizing efficiency of solar energy but also trace future development of solar energy.
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<Future Solar Energy Appliances>
In future, to further enhance the efficiency of solar energy, nanoscaled solar materials can be used. The nanoscaled solar materials offers a solution in increasing panel’s efficiency by allowing the light to flow through the surface and stored into the material. There are many ways these nano scaled metamaterial can be applied in our real lives in the future. With further research, these metamaterials can be used to create appliances such as “super solar panels”. Although, it was once only a theoretical structure that could capture images below the diffraction limit through the use of the negative refractive index, scientists are now one step closer in producing it. We can also apply this technique to produce a fancier design of super mini solar cells. `With these appliances, it is possible to store the light energy into the solar cell and use it efficiently and convieniently like a battery whenever we want. However this is only possible in specific type of materials, thickness, number of layers and incidence angle that the light comes through so there are still much progress to be made. The below diagram shows the structure of a hyperbolic meta material, which is formed of alternating layers of metal and dielectric. When the light goes through at particular angle, with particular type of material used to make the meta material, light can be stored in it. (light flows through) I measured the voltage of the solar cell between the fresnel lens 30 seconds after I shined the light and the results showed that the solar cell produced highest voltage when the distance between Fresnel lens and the 2nd parabolic reflector was greater. With the presence of Fresnel lens, the light rays were able to concentrate into the solar cell, demonstrating higher efficiency. The voltage produced increased as the distance between reflector and the lens increased. The rapid increase in the trend of the graph show great impact of Fresnel lens in voltage production of solar cells.
I also set up double parabolic reflectors with Fresnel lens in between to test out the effect of Fresnel lens in solar cell’s efficiency. I shined the flashlight so that the light rays would be reflected off the two parabolic reflectors and then go through the Fresnel lens. Fresnel lens is a type of lens effective in converging light rays as it consists of a series of concentric grooves etched into the plastic. They allow excellent light gathering ability as these contours act as individual refracting surfaces, bending parallel light rays to a common focal length as shown from the diagram. I manipulated the location of Fresnel lens in between the two parabolic reflectors and also measured the voltage produced by the solar cell when without the Fresnel lens.
Diagram #1 shows the set up of my experiment and diagram #2 shows the structure of the fresnel lens that allows the light rays to converge. |
Irene Jeong's signature project:Conducting various experiments using school's solar panel to find out the optimum environment for maximum efficiency of photovoltaic cells Archives
May 2017
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