Highly concentrated solar energy transmission through an optical fiber coupled with CPC

A solar energy concentrating system, coupled with an optical fiber, enables the use of highly concentrated solar energy at the desired place regardless of the position of a solar concentrator. Such a system can be used as a heat or light source. This system is also useful for space power applications. However, solar energy density decreases from the end point of the optical fiber, because the transmitted solar light disperses from the exit of the optical fiber according to its numerical aperture. To overcome this problem, the authors are investigating a CPC (compound parabolic concentrator) coupled to the exit of the optical fiber. This method is capable of increasing the solar energy density. They have experimentally confirmed that the solar energy density from a CPC is increased by 3.5 times compared to that of an optical fiber bundle output.