High-performance stationary solar tracking through multi-objective optimization of beam-steering lens arrays

Optics Express
Håkon J D JohnsenJan Torgersen

Abstract

Beam-steering lens arrays enable solar tracking using millimeter-scale relative translation between a set of lens arrays. This may represent a promising alternative to the mechanical bulk of conventional solar trackers, but until now a thorough exploration of possible configurations has not been carried out. We present an approach for designing beam-steering lens arrays based on multi-objective optimization, quantifying the trade-off between beam divergence and optical efficiency. Using this approach, we screen and optimize a large number of beam-steering lens array configurations, and identify new and promising configurations. We present a design capable of redirecting sunlight into a <2° divergence half-angle, with 73.4% average yearly efficiency, as well as a simplified design achieving 75.4% efficiency with a <3.5° divergence half-angle. These designs indicate the potential of beam-steering lens arrays for enabling low-cost solar tracking for stationary solar concentrators.

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References

Sep 29, 2004·Applied Optics·Jacques DuparréPeter Dannberg
Sep 14, 2006·Optics Letters·Ata AkatayHakan Urey
Apr 16, 2007·Optics Express·G W Forbes
Mar 4, 2011·Optics Express·Panagiotis KotsidasJeffrey M Gordon
Jun 10, 2011·Optics Express·Fabian DuerrHugo Thienpont
Aug 22, 2012·Bioinformatics·Johannes Köster, Sven Rahmann
Feb 6, 2015·Nature Communications·Jared S PriceNoel C Giebink
May 4, 2016·Optics Express·Bráulio Fonseca Carneiro de AlbuquerqueAmauri Silva Montes
Jan 7, 2017·Optics Express·Alex J GredeNoel C Giebink
Feb 6, 2020·Nature Methods·Pauli VirtanenUNKNOWN SciPy 1.0 Contributors

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Citations

Dec 29, 2020·Optics Letters·Håkon J D JohnsenJan Torgersen

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