Nanotechnology
1.Development of nano-scale solar concentrators with varying refractive index to increase efficiency of solar cells
This development process coincides with the ‘Concentrating Photovoltaic modules using advanced technologies and cells for highest efficiencies’ (CPVMatch) project funded by the EU.
Please see: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/193754_en.html
Once the development is completed, PET bottles recycled in compliance with sustainable development requirements will be used to manufacture solar concentrators for solar cells. Throughout the industrial research, we will produce, made of nano-tech materials, solar cell concentrator prototypes with gradually changing refractive index, that are insensitive to the light’s angle of incidence, therefore they don’t require a solar tracking system to operate. Further expected benefits of this technology include: the amount of photovoltaic cells required is smaller than of existing solar cells, it’s not dependent on the direction of light, and is capable of utilizing reflected light too.
The industrial research’s expected result:
A prototype of a solar concentrator with constantly varying refractive index, a prototype of the manufacturing instrument, and the manufacturing know-how.
Possible markets:
Solar cell markets worldwide. As a result of the above mentioned industrial research solar concentrators will reduce the required amount of solar cells to one third by increasing light traps’ efficiency by 30%, which is a consequence of more photon collisions with solar cells. The EU’s CPVMatch Project brings the high concentration photovoltaics’ actual performance closer to theoretical thresholds. To reinforce our expertise in our activities we cooperate with Hungarian universities.
2.Manufacturing of large, thin-walled, high-strength aluminium castings made of nano-tech materials
The experimental development is driven by the fact that, either in the Hungarian or other markets, no method exists for manufacturing large, cast-in, thin-walled, pierced, high-strength ornamented aluminium castings (eg. large tabletops for garden furniture). Our company set out to develop a solution that allows the production of large, high-strength aluminium castings reinforced by nano-tech materials. This research will result in a prototype tool, the know-how, and a high-strength, thin-walled aluminium casting tabletop in the size of 1600x900mm. Given the dimensions the thin walls alone lead to saving on materials, since less aluminium is used compared to heavy-walled products. Energy is also saved, therefore emission levels are kept lower. During the production of 50 tonnes the expected reduction in emission will be 100,000kg after the introduction of this technology. Another environment-related benefit is the fact that metal furniture production doesn’t require wood at all (normally 5,000m3 of wood for 50 tonnes of aluminium), hence the solution doesn’t add to deforestation, further improving the product’s carbon dioxide balance. Thus, this technology protects our forests too.
