Integrated electrical and thermal energy solar cell system

a solar cell and solar cell technology, applied in thermal-pv hybrid energy generation, lighting and heating apparatus, heating types, etc., can solve the problem of more than 60 percent of solar energy captured, in the form of heat, being wasted

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-07-12
UNITED TECH CORP
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  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0002] An integrated solar cell system applies energy created by a solar cell module. The integration system includes a solar cell module, a low-grade heat recovery means, and a process system. The low-grade heat recovery means recovers waste heat from the solar cell module and connects the solar cell module to the process system. The process system is powered at least partially by thermal energy derived from waste heat generated by the solar cell module.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, more than 60 percent of the solar energy captured, in the form of heat, is wasted.

Method used

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  • Integrated electrical and thermal energy solar cell system
  • Integrated electrical and thermal energy solar cell system
  • Integrated electrical and thermal energy solar cell system

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Embodiment Construction

[0007]FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an integrated electrical and thermal energy solar cell system 10 that generally includes concentrator 12, concentrated photovoltaic cell 14, electrical energy stream 16A, waste heat energy stream 16B, waste heat recover system 18, and process system 20. Process system 20 uses low-grade waste heat 16B generated from cell 14 to provide at least a portion of the energy needed to operate process system 20. Waste heat 16B is collected by waste heat recovery system 18, which transports waste heat 16B to process system 20 for use as thermal energy. Integrated system 10 increases the overall efficiency of concentrated photovoltaic cell 14 and process system 20 by combining the photovoltaic power generated by cell 14 with waste heat recovery. In addition, integrated system 10 produces less pollution by using solar energy as its primary energy source.

[0008] In operation, concentrator 12 is aligned with respect to the sun so that it collects and focuse...

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Abstract

An integrated solar cell system applies energy created by a solar cell module. The integration system includes a solar cell module, a low-grade heat recovery means, and a process system. The low-grade heat recovery means recovers waste heat from the solar cell module and connects the solar cell module to the process system. The process system is powered at least partially by thermal energy derived from waste heat generated by the solar cell module.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Solar cells, or photovoltaic cells, have the ability to convert sunlight directly into electricity. Conventional solar cells are approximately 15 percent efficient in converting absorbed light into electricity. Concentrated photovoltaic cells have the ability to capture more of the electromagnetic spectrum and are thus more efficient, converting absorbed light into electricity at about 30 percent efficiency. The solar energy that is not converted to electricity is converted to heat that is subsequently discarded. Thus, more than 60 percent of the solar energy captured, in the form of heat, is wasted. Due to the small size and the high-energy absorption of the photovoltaic cells, the heat must be efficiently dissipated from the cells to prevent degradation or damage of the cells. One method of removing heat for both conventional and concentrated photovoltaic cells is to use liquid and air heat exchange devices or heat sinks. An integrated solar cell...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): F24J2/42F24S90/00
CPCF24D11/0221F24F5/0046F25B27/002Y02B10/20H02S40/44Y02B30/126Y02E10/52Y02E10/60Y02B10/70Y02E10/50Y02A30/60
Inventor RADHAKRISHNAN, RAKESHMA, ZIDUWALKER, CRAIG R.CHEN, YULI, YUANGUANGKUANG, YUHUI
Owner UNITED TECH CORP
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