Cylindrical and square fibre luminescent solar concentrators: Experimental and simulation comparisons

Square and cylindrical fibre luminescent solar concentrators (FLSCs) are investigated. Standalone cylindrical FLSCs are better performing than square ones. Simulation results are compared with real-world samples, manufactured at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) by fibre extrusion. Shading effects in 2, 3 and an infinite array of cylindrical fibres is investigated. A cylinder will divert all non-reflected incident light away from its neighbour up to a threshold zenithal angle, at which point it starts to focus light back in. Simulations were run for an FLSC array on both the summer and winter solstice days in London, UK using SMARTS spectral data. The array averages 4% efficiency on the winter solstice and 5% on the summer solstice.