Loss analysis in luminescent sheet concentrators: from ideal to real system

Abstract

Thermodynamic limits of luminescent sheet concentrators (LSC) are three orders of magnitude higher than record ones made up to now. This paper aims at understanding why there is such a gap and what is the link between ideal and real LSC. Computational modeling enables to evaluate separately the different loss mechanisms, to determine their respective weight, and to correlate them to accessible physical parameters, such as geometrical ratio, photoluminescence quantum yield, etc. From an ideal system, the different parameters have been degraded to obtain a real system and the performances of each system have been simulated. The high interdependency of different loss mechanisms has also been studied in several cases. In a second part, more realistic cases are addressed to show how performances is impacted by non-idealities and where does the principal limitations come from. Practically achievable efficiencies are suggested, based on state-of-the-art technologies and material properties. Finally, promising directions for the search of better systems are proposed.