SBIR Phase I: Optoelectronic Solar Tracking Device

SBIR第一期：光电太阳能跟踪装置

• 批准号: 1214849
• 负责人: John Pender
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: Meridian Deployment Corporation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-07-01 至 2013-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1214849&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Optoelectronic; Solar; Tracking

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project investigates a novel optical element (OE) that uses liquid crystal (LC) in thin panels to steer sunlight. Any technology using focused sunlight must account for the motion of the sun. For decades this has been accomplished by physically moving the focusing optics and/or the target (a photovoltaic cell, for instance) so that the system is always aligned with the sun. This project develops a simple, motion-free tracking system where the refractive index of the LC is continuously varied with a low-voltage signal to keep the focused sunlight on the target as the sun moves throughout the day. The technology is applicable to any concentrated solar application. The project goals are to optimize design elements of the OE with respect to materials configuration and manufacturing technique, and to build prototypes for lab and field-testing. Phase 1 will address three interconnected design issues. These are 1) maximizing solar throughput of the device by eliminating unwanted reflections from various interfaces, 2) maximizing the acceptance range of solar incidence angles, and 3) lowering the cost of the finished device for commercialization. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be its effect on the economics of the energy sector, national energy security, and global climate change. The unique beam steering technology developed in this project will make on-site energy production more economically viable, which will have the immediate effect of reducing the amount of power drawn from the grid. This will lower the demands on centralized power plants, the vast majority of which produce electricity by burning fossil fuels, and on the aging transmission line infrastructure. Reducing the amount of electricity consumed in the U.S. will improve national energy security not only by strengthening the economy, but also by reducing the amount of fossil fuel the U.S. must purchase offshore. Reducing the amount of fossil fuel burned to make electricity will reduce the carbon footprint of the U.S., further mitigating the effect of global climate change.

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目研究了一种新型光学元件（OE），该元件在薄面板中使用液晶（LC）来引导阳光。任何使用聚焦太阳光的技术都必须考虑太阳的运动。几十年来，这一直是通过物理移动聚焦光学器件和/或目标（例如光伏电池）来实现的，以便系统始终与太阳对准。该项目开发了一种简单的无运动跟踪系统，其中LC的折射率随着低压信号不断变化，以保持聚焦的太阳光在目标上，因为太阳在一天中移动。该技术适用于任何聚光太阳能应用。该项目的目标是优化设计要素的OE方面的材料配置和制造技术，并建立原型实验室和现场测试。第一阶段将解决三个相互关联的设计问题。 这些是1）通过消除来自各种界面的不必要的反射来最大化装置的太阳能吞吐量，2）最大化太阳能入射角的接受范围，以及3）降低用于商业化的成品装置的成本。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是其对能源部门经济、国家能源安全和全球气候变化的影响。 该项目开发的独特波束控制技术将使现场能源生产更具经济可行性，这将直接减少从电网汲取的电力量。这将降低对集中式发电厂的需求，其中绝大多数通过燃烧化石燃料发电，以及对老化的输电线路基础设施的需求。减少美国的电力消耗量将不仅通过加强经济，而且通过减少美国必须购买的海外化石燃料量来改善国家能源安全。减少化石燃料的燃烧量将减少美国的碳足迹，进一步减轻全球气候变化的影响。