IBM Research

Case Study

Airlight Energys Dsolar

unit improves solar power
with IBM Research
IBMs hot-water cooling technology helps convert
concentrated solar energy to electricity

Overview
The need
To generate electricity in an affordable
dish system that concentrates the suns
rays on photovoltaic cells, Dsolar needed
to cool cells that otherwise would get as
hot as 2,000 degrees Celsius and likely
burn out.

The solution
Working jointly with IBM Research
Zurich, the company licensed IBMs hotwater cooling technology, which cools
cells and enables the system to recycle
waste heat.

The benefit
Commercial versions of the system can
generate electricity efficiently and costeffectively in remote regions and in large
complexes while recycling waste heat for
heating, cooling and water desalination.

Dsolar is a company of Airlight Energy, a supplier of proprietary

solar technologies and complete solutions for large-scale production
of electricity and thermal energy and for energy storage. Headquarters
of the roughly 60-employee firm are in Biasca, Switzerland.

Solar concentration generates heat

Typical solar energy systems capture the suns radiation on large, f lat
surfaces for conversion to electricity, which creates a need for large
solar cell areas. But if mirrors could concentrate the suns rays onto
a smaller cell area, it would be possible to build less costly systems.

Dsolar executives are pleased with their fruitful collaboration

with IBM Research. Its somewhat unusual that we have
this synergy with IBM. Big companies can be difficult to
work with, but with IBM theres a strong possibility of
making magic together, says Gianluca Ambrosetti, head
of R&D and responsible for the Dsolar project at Airlight
Energy

IBM Research
Case Study

Solution components
Services

IBM Research

That is the idea behind Airlight Energys Dsolar project, a collaboration

with IBM Research and ETH Zurich, the international university. The
project aims to commercialize a high-concentration photovoltaic thermal
(HCPVT) system that combines a parabolic dish with mirrors and a sun
tracking device to concentrate the suns rays 2,000 times onto receivers
with special ultra-high-efficiency photovoltaic cells. The conversion rate
of solar energy to electricity is 30 percent or better, more than twice the
efficiency of typical flatplate photovoltaic systems.
The system can be constructed of common materials such as cement and
inexpensive metal foils at the deployment site. A key technical challenge,
however, is cooling the photovoltaic cells, which without cooling would
heat up to 2,000 degrees Celsius and be destroyed within seconds. To
perfect the system, Airlight Energy scientists sought a technology to
cool the cells while recycling the waste heat to perform useful work.

IBM technology cools the cells

They found the solution working with IBM Research Zurich. Airlight
Energy entered a joint development agreement with IBM and licensed
IBMs advanced hot-water cooling technology used to cool computer
chips. The application is inspired by the hierarchical branched blood
supply system of the human body. IBM scientists have tested the
technology in high performance computers such as Aquasar and
SuperMUC.

IBM Research
Case Study

The solar application involves mounting the photovoltaic cells on

micro-structured layers that pipe liquid coolants within a few tens
of micrometers of the cells to absorb the heat and draw it away. This
approach is 10 times more effective than passive air cooling. It also allows
for efficient recovery of half of the waste heat, which can be repurposed
in cascaded processes for space heating, refrigeration and air conditioning, and water desalination. At present scientists on the Dsolar project
are making good progress on an HCPVT system that will integrate the
parabolic dish with a chiller and a desalination machine. They expect a
commercial product in early 2017, with prospects enhanced by
IBM Researchs involvement.

Extending the appeal of solar technology

If sustainable solar energy systems were more efficient, less costly and
composed of commonly available materials, they would likely achieve
greater acceptance and benefit the planet. These are among the pluses
of Dsolars integrated system. Described as elegantly simple, the dish
replaces costly steel and glass with low-cost concrete and simple metal
pressurized foils. Companies can manufacture the small high-tech
components in Switzerland, and contractors in the installations region
can complete the remaining construction, thus reducing costs and
creating jobs in both regions.
The system will particularly benefit remote and rural tropical regions
because it can deliver air conditioning and refrigeration in summer,
heating in winter, and water desalinization and purification at any time.
Estimates are that a large installation could provide enough drinking
water for a town. The system should also be useful in large installations
for residential and commercial buildings, shopping centers and factories.

For more information

To learn more about IBM Research services, please contact your
IBM marketing representative or IBM Business Partner, or visit the
following website: ibm.com/research.

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