Photovoltaic receiver

Abstract

A PV receiver that, when located within a solar concentrator, provides for shielding of electrical connections associated with the receiver from solar radiation that is reflected toward the receiver. The PV receiver comprises an electrically non-conductive elongate carrier, and a plurality of PV wafer dice mounted as a linear array to a first, forward, face of the carrier. A plurality of conductor elements is arrayed along the first face of the carrier behind the PV wafer dice and the conductor elements are connected one-to-one with electrodes located on a first, rearward, face of each of the wafer dice. Busbars are located on the elongate carrier behind the PV wafer dice, and electrically conductive connections made between the conductor elements and the busbars behind the PV wafer dice. In one embodiment of the PV receiver the busbars are located on a second, rearward, face of the carrier and the electrically conductive connections are made through the carrier. A method of shielding electrical connections associated with a PV receiver within a solar concentrator from radiation reflected toward the receiver is also disclosed.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a photovoltaic ("PV") receiver structure suitable for use in a solar concentrator and a method of forming such a receiver structure. Background technique [0002] International Patent Application No. PCT / AU2009 / 000529 filed in the name of Chromasun Pty Ltd on April 28, 2009 (earliest priority date May 13, 2008) discloses a solar concentrator comprising Housing structure with multiple windows for receiving incident solar radiation. A plurality of laterally spaced apart and linearly extending receivers are located within the housing structure, and a plurality of linearly extending reflector elements are associated with respective ones of the receivers and are arranged to move from one of the spaced apart receivers to Intermittent incident solar radiation is reflected towards the corresponding receivers. A drive mechanism is provided to transmit the pivotal (sun tracking) drive to the reflector elements. [0003] In one...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0003] In one embodiment of the concentrator disclosed in the referenced patent application, each receiver is described in general terms as comprising a linear array of PV chips (herein referred to as "wafers") mounted to a linearly extending carrier, and , in the progressive development of such receivers, it has been determined that the overall effective operating efficiency of the concentrator is reduced due to leakage at each receiver of radiation reflected from the associated reflector

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