High concentration terrestrial solar cell arrangement with iii-v compound semiconductor cell

Abstract

The present invention relates to a concentrator photovoltaic solar cell array for terrestrial use for generating electrical power from solar radiation which includes the following components: a collection lens for generating collection degree higher than 500X; solar cell of gathered beam path including a germanium substrate having a first photovoltaic node and forming a bottom solar sub-cell; a gallium arsenide middle sub-cell set on the substrate; and gallium phosphide indium top sub-cell set above the middle sub-cell and provided with band-gap maximizes absorption in AM1.5 spectral regions and thickness larger than 7000 angstrom; and sheet resistance smaller than 330 Ohm / square and suitable for operation in collection degree larger than 20 solar collection degree, wherein current density of the top sub-cell larger than 35 ampere / square centimeter.

Description

technical field 1. Field of invention [0001] The present invention relates generally to the design of solar cells for concentrating ground-based solar power systems that convert sunlight into electrical energy, and more particularly to arrangements for solar cells that include concentrating lenses and use III-V compound semiconductors. ), and optimization of concentration levels on the solar cell. Background technique [0002] Commercially available silicon solar cells for terrestrial solar powered applications have efficiencies ranging from 8% to 15%. Compound semiconductor solar cells based on III-V compounds have an efficiency of 28% under normal operating conditions. Furthermore, it is well known that concentrating solar energy onto III-V compound semiconductor photovoltaic cells can increase cell efficiency to over 37% efficiency when concentrating. [0003] Currently, ground-based solar power systems use silicon solar cells due to their low cost and wide availabili...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While III-V compound semiconductor solar cells have been widely used in satellite applications (where specific power efficiency is a more important consideration than cost per watt in selecting such devices), such solar cells are designed to be used in The solar spectrum at the top of the Earth's atmosphere (called air mass 0, or AMO) and not suitable for coverage of the solar spectrum that exists on the Earth's surface (called air mass 1.5 or AM1.5)

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