Development of ultra-wide angle optical module for photovoltaic systems

This study presents an optical module which collects wide-angle solar power to enhance the power generation efficiency of Photovoltaic (PV) panels. The ultra-wide angle optical module is able to replace the traditional mechanical solar tracking system. This module is composed of an array of light guiding units, and each unit includes two parts which are asymmetrical compound parabolic curve (ACPC) and the free-form curve collimator. The ACPC and collimator are combined to detect the power generation.