Concentrating Photovoltaic and Thermal Collector
Department
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Major
Electrical Engineering
Research Advisor
Baur, Stuart Werner, 1965-
Advisor's Department
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Funding Source
Missouri S&T Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Fellows Program; Missouri S&T Solar House Team
Abstract
Although thermal concentrators are readily available, the market for Concentrating Photovoltaic and Thermal Collectors is a fairly untouched application. This combination of thermal heat transfer and photovoltaic energy generation, working in harmony to produce a benefit in both arenas, is a bold step into the common application of renewable energy generation and use. The tests conducted within this research helped to prove the theory that the thermal energy could be taken from the concentrated cell thus producing an increase in the solar output of the cell itself. The concentration of the parabolic trough emphasized this effect by focusing the solar output onto the collector and creating a large temperature differential within the system. This experiment and its results furthered the understanding of combined energy generation systems.
Biography
Ben Brannon is junior in Electrical Engineering from Nashville, Tennessee. He is heavily involved on campus in the Solar House student design team and several research projects stemming from it including studies on SmartGrid application, the Chameleon home automation system, advanced lighting control, Solar Building Benchmark and concentrating solar thermal systems. During the 2009 summer he worked as an intern at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado researching the effects of renewable power generation on current grid infrastructure, and plans to return in 2010 to research the possibilities of occupancy detection from a camera-based microprocessor system. After graduation he plans to work in the renewable energy field in either green building system design or renewable power generation.
Research Category
Engineering
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Award
Engineering oral presentation, First place
Location
Ozark Room
Presentation Date
07 Apr 2010, 9:00 am - 9:30 am
Concentrating Photovoltaic and Thermal Collector
Ozark Room
Although thermal concentrators are readily available, the market for Concentrating Photovoltaic and Thermal Collectors is a fairly untouched application. This combination of thermal heat transfer and photovoltaic energy generation, working in harmony to produce a benefit in both arenas, is a bold step into the common application of renewable energy generation and use. The tests conducted within this research helped to prove the theory that the thermal energy could be taken from the concentrated cell thus producing an increase in the solar output of the cell itself. The concentration of the parabolic trough emphasized this effect by focusing the solar output onto the collector and creating a large temperature differential within the system. This experiment and its results furthered the understanding of combined energy generation systems.
Comments
Joint Project with Andrew Adams and Cory Brennan