• Solar Energy
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.3-14
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• 1986

It is desirable to collect the solar thermal energy at relatively high temperature in order to minimize the size of thermal storage system and to enlarge the scope of solar thermal energy utilization. In this study, to develop a solar collector that has both advantages of collecting solar thermal energy at high temperature and fixing conveniently the collector system for long term period, a cylindrical parabolique concentrating solar collector (M.C.P.C.S.C) was designed, which has several rows of parabolique reflectors and thin thickness such as the flat-plate solar collector, maintaining the optical form of concentrating solar collector. The thermal performance of the M.C.P.C.S.C. newly designed in this study was analysed theoretically and experimentally. The results are summarized as follows: 1) prediction equation for outlet temperature, $T_o$, of heat transfer fluid and for the thermal efficiency, ${\eta}$, of the collector were derived as; o $$T_o=[C+B1_n(\frac{I_c(t)}{pv^3})]T_i$$ o $${\eta}=\frac{A}{A_c}\dot{m}[(C-1)+B1_n(E{\cdot}di^6\frac{I_c(t)}{\dot{m}^3})]\frac{T_i}{I_c(t)}$$ 2) When the insolation on the tilted solar collector surface, $I_c$, was $900-950W/m^2$ and the heat transfer fluid was not circulated in tubular absorber, the maximum temperature on the absorber surface was $100-118^{\circ}C$, this result suggested that the heat transfer fluid could be heated up to $98-116^{\circ}C$. The maximum temperature on the absorber surface was decreased with the increase of the collector shape factor, $L_p/L_w$ 3) There was a good agreement between the experimental and theoretical value of solar collector efficiency, ${\eta}$, which was proportional to the collector shape factor, $L_p/L_w$ 4) It is desirable to continue the study on the relationship between the collector shape factor, $L_p/L_w$, and the thermal efficiency of solar collector.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.65-65
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• 2012

Copper zinc tin sulfide ($Cu_2ZnSnS_4$, CZTS) is a very promising material as a low cost absorber alternative to other chalcopyrite-type semiconductors based on Ga or In because of the abundant and economical elements. In addition, CZTS has a band-gap energy of 1.4~1.5eV and large absorption coefficient over ${\sim}10^4cm^{-1}$, which is similar to those of $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$(CIGS) regarded as one of the most successful absorber materials for high efficient solar cell. Most previous works on the fabrication of CZTS thin films were based on the vacuum deposition such as thermal evaporation and RF magnetron sputtering. Although the vacuum deposition has been widely adopted, it is quite expensive and complicated. In this regard, the solution processes such as sol-gel method, nanocrystal dispersion and hybrid slurry method have been developed for easy and cost-effective fabrication of CZTS film. Among these methods, the hybrid slurry method is favorable to make high crystalline and dense absorber layer. However, this method has the demerit using the toxic and explosive hydrazine solvent, which has severe limitation for common use. With these considerations, it is highly desirable to develop a robust, easily scalable and relatively safe solution-based process for the fabrication of a high quality CZTS absorber layer. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of a high quality CZTS absorber layer with a thickness of 1.5~2.0 ${\mu}m$ and micrometer-scaled grains using two different non-vacuum approaches. The first solution-processing approach includes air-stable non-toxic solvent-based inks in which the commercially available precursor nanoparticles are dispersed in ethanol. Our readily achievable air-stable precursor ink, without the involvement of complex particle synthesis, high toxic solvents, or organic additives, facilitates a convenient method to fabricate a high quality CZTS absorber layer with uniform surface composition and across the film depth when annealed at $530^{\circ}C$. The conversion efficiency and fill factor for the non-toxic ink based solar cells are 5.14% and 52.8%, respectively. The other method is based on the nanocrystal dispersions that are a key ingredient in the deposition of thermally annealed absorber layers. We report a facile synthetic method to produce phase-pure CZTS nanocrystals capped with less toxic and more easily removable ligands. The resulting CZTS nanoparticle dispersion enables us to fabricate uniform, crack-free absorber layer onto Mo-coated soda-lime glass at $500^{\circ}C$, which exhibits a robust and reproducible photovoltaic response. Our simple and less-toxic approach for the fabrication of CZTS layer, reported here, will be the first step in realizing the low-cost solution-processed CZTS solar cell with high efficiency.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.354-356
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• 2017

We focused on light management technology in amorphous silicon solar cells to suppress increase in absorber thickness for improving power conversion efficiency (PCE). $MgF_2$ and $TiO_2$ anti-reflection layers were coated on both sides of Asahi VU ($glass/SnO_2:F$) substrates, which contributed to increase in PCE from 9.16% to 9.81% at absorber thickness of only 150 nm. Also, we applied very thin $MgF_2$ as a rear reflector at n-type nanocrystalline silicon oxide/Ag interface to boost photocurrent. By reinforcing rear reflection, we could find the PCE increase from 10.08% up to 10.34% based on thin absorber about 200 nm.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.54-62
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• 2007

In this paper, we report the research highlight on the preparation and characterization of Indium-free $Cu_2ZnSnSe_4$ and Indium-reduced $CulnZnSe_2$ thin films in order to seek the viability of these absorber materials to be applied in thin film solar cells. The films of $Cu_2ZnSnSe_4\;and\;CulnZnSe_2$ were prepared using mixed binary chalcogenides powders. It was observed that Cu concentration was a function of substrate temperature as well as CuSe mole ratio in the target. Under an optimized condition, $Cu_2ZnSnSe_4\;and\;CulnZnSe_2$ thin films grew with strong [112]. [220/204] and [312/116] reflections. Both $Cu_2ZnSnSe_4\;and\;CulnZnSe_2$ films were found to exhibit a high absorption coefficient of $104^4cm^{-1}\;Cu_2ZnSnSe_4$ film showed a band gap of 1.5eV which closes to the optimum band gap of an ideal solar absorber for a solar cell. On the other side, an increase of optical band gap from 1.0 to 1.25eV was found to be proportional with an increase of Zn concentration in the $CulnZnSe_2$ film. All films in this study revealed a p-type semiconductor characteristic.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.69-80
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• 2015

A series of numerical analyses was conducted to predict the thermal performance of a solar air heater depending on the hole configuration and geometry in the absorber plate. The planar dimensions of the prototype were 1 m (W) by 1.6 m (H), and the maximum air flow considered was $187m^3/h$. It was considered that protruding holes with a triangular opening in the absorber plate would invoke turbulence in the air flow to enhance the convection heat transfer. Six different hole configurations were investigated and compared with each other, while the hole opening height was considered as a design variable. Three-dimensional transient analyses were performed with a commercial software package on the airflow and heat transfer in the model. The numerical results were analyzed and compared from the view point of the outlet air temperature and its time response to derive the optimal hole pattern and hole opening height.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.172-175
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• 2006

Steam reforming of methane using Xe-arc solar simulator was studied for converting solar radiation into energy foam that one can readily utilize. The Xe-arc lamp produce a spectrum similar to that of the sun. SiC ceramic foam, resist high temp.$(>900^{\circ}C)$, is used to catalytically active foam absorber, and to support of reforming catalyst. The catalyst on the surface of foam were directly irradiated with solar simulated xe-light in order to carry out the steam reforming of methane. The reactor was made of stainless steel and quartz window was located on a place of the xe-light irradiation and temperature was controlled using K-type thermocouple in contact with catalyst located inside the reactor. The result show that a possibility of solar reforming using catalytically active foam absorber is exist.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1237-1245
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• 1993

In this study, a model of a flat plate solar collector using a heat pipe was manufactured and tested to investigate such operational characteristics of the present system of solar collector as start-up process, temperature distribution on the absorber plate and operation of the heat pipe. Moreover, collector efficiency was measured for 20-30 minutes of operation at various conditions of weather and the result was compared with that tested by Hill et. a. for a flat plate solar collector using direct circulation of coolant. Some results obtained in this study could be summarized as follows. (1) The required time for the initial start-up process was about 5-6 minutes, but the heat pipe began to operate as soon as the absorber plate was exposed to solar radiation. (2) On the absorber plate, the temperature distributions in axial direction maintained nearly constant, while temperature distributions in transversal direction showed smooth decrease with $3-5^{\cird}C$ along with solar radiation. (3) Thermal inertia of the collector system had a favorable effect to damp the turbulent variation of solar radiation. (4) The collector efficiency of the present system showed nearly the same tendency but a decrease of about 10% compared with that using direct circulation of coolant.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

A photovoltaic/thermal (PVT)solar system is the solar technology that allows for simultaneous conversion of solar energy into both electricity and heat. This paper compared the performance of PVT system with a conventional PV module and solar collector and analyzed electrical and thermal efficiency of PVT system in terms of solar irradiance and inlet temperature of the working fluid. Based on the experimental data, thermal and electrical efficiencies of he glazed PVT system were57.9% and14.27% under zero reduced temperature condition which were lower by 13.6% than the solar thermal absorber plate and by 0.08% than the PV module respectively. For the unglazed PVT system it had lower thermal efficiency than the solar thermal absorber plate but higher electrical performance than the PV module due to the cooling effect by the working fluid. However, total efficiency of the glazed PVT system was72.2% which was higher than combined efficiencies of the solar collector and PV module. Besides, total efficiency of the PVT system would be much higher if calculated based on unit area.

• Solar Energy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.69-89
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• 1998

The measured solar radiation incident on tilted surfaces by all directions has been widely used as important solar radiation data in installing solar collectors, hot water systems, and photovoltaic modules, and in designing solar buildings and houses. To maximize the incident beam radiation, the slope, which is the angle between the plane of the surface in question and the horizontal, and the solar azimuth angles are needed for these solar applied systems. To respond to above needs, a theoretical study with actual measurements on moving route of the sun is carried out. This study focuses on the development of an solar expert system and on the selection of slopes for solar absorber plates in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.259-273
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• 2012

Chalcogenide-based semiconductors, such as $CuInSe_2$, $CuGaSe_2$, Cu(In,Ga)$Se_2$ (CIGS), and CdTe have attracted considerable interest as efficient materials in thin film solar cells (TFSCs). Currently, CIGS and CdTe TFSCs have demonstrated the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 11% in module production. However, commercialized CIGS and CdTe TFSCs have some limitations due to the scarcity of In, Ga, and Te and the environmental issues associated with Cd and Se. Recently, kesterite CZTS, which is one of the In- and Ga- free absorber materials, has been attracted considerable attention as a new candidate for use as an absorber material in thin film solar cells. The CZTS-based absorber material has outstanding characteristics such as band gap energy of 1.0 eV to 1.5 eV, high absorption coefficient on the order of $10^4cm^{-1}$, and high theoretical conversion efficiency of 32.2% in thin film solar cells. Despite these promising characteristics, research into CZTS-based thin film solar cells is still incomprehensive and related reports are quite few compared to those for CIGS thin film solar cells, which show high efficiency of over 20%. The recent development of kesterite-based CZTS thin film solar cells is summarized in this work. The new challenges for enhanced performance in CZTS thin films are examined and prospective issues are addressed as well.