Spectrum exergy analysis of a solar photovoltaic conversion process

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic conversion is an approach for the direct conversion of solar radiation to electric power. The spectrum exergy of thermal radiation is derived on the basis of the definition of spectral radiation exergy intensity. By taking the model of a photovoltaic conversion process as an example, the present paper studied the conversion of solar photovoltaic from the view point of exergy analysis, and analyzed the distribution of spectrum exergy efficiency of solar photovoltaic conversion segments in photovoltaic conversion process. All in- and outgoing fluxes in the thermodynamic balance equations for spectrum energy and exergy must be known to evaluate the spectrum efficiency of this energy conversion process. The calculation procedure to obtain the spectral energy, and exergy fluxes is described. The energy flow diagram and the exergy flow diagram at given wavelength are described respectively. The results show that the spectral utilization for solar photovoltaic conversion is with promising.