Design, manufacture, and testing of a modular array for three-dimensional photovoltaics

Abstract

The emerging technology of three-dimensional photovoltaics is explored, shedding light on past research, current developments, and recommendations for future work. Research was performed at the University of Alaska Fairbanks analyzing six different geometric configurations of solar cells, both computationally and experimentally. The primary work described in this paper is the design and production of a modular solar array prototype and the experimental setup used to test the power output of the different configurations. Data collected from hundreds of tests were processed and analyzed to find optimum configuration angles and recommendations for future research. Working through the process of designing and manufacturing the equipment, and then subsequently using it for experimentation, provided many insights into recommended improvements. This text is organized into eight chapters that detail the background of research in using three-dimensional space for solar power generation, the recent project completed at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the proposed guidance for future work on this topic. This paper and use of the sources cited herein should provide the reader with the background and tools necessary to continue research. The latter chapters should act as a guide for the future design of components to be used in laboratory experimentation. It is hoped that this report, the collected data, and associated files from this project will add to the knowledge base of threedimensional solar arrays and help advance the technology one step closer to real-world application.