Novel applications of luminescence for solar energy
File(s)
Author(s)
Videira, Jose Joao Henriques
Type
Thesis
Abstract
Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) provide indirect light concentration by absorbing both direct and indirect incident light, and have applications in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Fibre LSCs were found to have a linear relationship between photon concentration and fibre lengths in scales suitable for LSC modules. Using raytrace modelling, cylindrical LSC arrays were found to exhibit light trapping properties at certain angles of incidence, which can pave the way for more efficient BIPV applications.
Novel optics for a double-illuminated water splitting reactor were introduced, for the objective of solar hydrogen for energy storage and sustainable transport fuels. A reflective cone embedded in a waveguide reflects incident concentrated light into the waveguide. Raytrace modelling and practical high concentration measurements demonstrate the viability of the optical system as well as necessity for a perfectly smooth reflective cone. It was also shown that replaced the reflective cone with a quantum well solar cell (QWSC) in order to harness the photoluminescence (PL) is not a viable concept with current QWSC structures.
Another form of sustainable transport fuels is to use biofuels produced by algae. Algae have evolved to absorb excess amounts of energy, even when it is detrimental to their own growth and survival. This causes inefficiencies when growing algae in raceway ponds. The luminescent solar diffuser (LSD) is an optical funnel, optimisable by use of a genetic algorithm, that can be retrofitted into an algae raceway pond in order to better distribute incident light into the pond depths. This was calculated to increase algae growth rates in the pond, thereby increasing the yield of an algae farm.
Novel optics for a double-illuminated water splitting reactor were introduced, for the objective of solar hydrogen for energy storage and sustainable transport fuels. A reflective cone embedded in a waveguide reflects incident concentrated light into the waveguide. Raytrace modelling and practical high concentration measurements demonstrate the viability of the optical system as well as necessity for a perfectly smooth reflective cone. It was also shown that replaced the reflective cone with a quantum well solar cell (QWSC) in order to harness the photoluminescence (PL) is not a viable concept with current QWSC structures.
Another form of sustainable transport fuels is to use biofuels produced by algae. Algae have evolved to absorb excess amounts of energy, even when it is detrimental to their own growth and survival. This causes inefficiencies when growing algae in raceway ponds. The luminescent solar diffuser (LSD) is an optical funnel, optimisable by use of a genetic algorithm, that can be retrofitted into an algae raceway pond in order to better distribute incident light into the pond depths. This was calculated to increase algae growth rates in the pond, thereby increasing the yield of an algae farm.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2016-09
Date Awarded
2017-03
Copyright Statement
Attribution NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence (CC BY-ND)
Advisor
Ekins-Daukes, Nicholas
Stavrinou, Paul
Sponsor
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Grant Number
1226715
Publisher Department
Physics
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)