336 results about "Concentrator photovoltaic" patented technology

A concentrating photovoltaic module is provided which provides a concentration in the range of about 500 to over 1,000 suns and a power range of a few kW to 50 kW. A plurality of such modules may be combined to form a power plant capable of generating over several hundred megaWatts. The concentrating photovoltaic module is based on a Photovoltaic Cavity Converter (PVCC) as an enabling technology for very high solar-to-electricity conversions. The use of a cavity containing a plurality of single junction solar cells of different energy bandgaps and simultaneous spectral splitting of the solar spectrum employs a lateral geometry in the spherical cavity (where the cell strings made of the single junction cells operate next to each other without mutual interference). The purpose of the cavity with a small aperture for the pre-focused solar radiation is to confine (trap) the photons so that they can be recycled effectively and used by the proper cells. Passive or active cooling mechanisms may be employed to cool the solar cells.

The present invention is that of a solar energy system that uses a light-guide solar panel (LGSP) to trap light inside a dielectric or other transparent panel and propagates the light to one of the panel edges for harvesting by a solar energy collector such as a photovoltaic cell. This allows for very thin modules whose thickness is comparable to the height of the solar energy collector. This eliminates eliminating the depth requirements inherent in traditional concentrated photovoltaic solar energy systems.

A concentrator photovoltaic solar cell array for terrestrial use for generating electrical power from solar radiation including a central support which is rotatable about its central longitudinal axis, a support frame carried by, and rotatable with respect to, the central support about an axis orthogonal to said central longitudinal axis, and a solar array mounted on the support frame. The solar cell array includes a plurality of Fresnel concentrator lenses and multijunction III-V compound semiconductor solar cells each producing in excess of 10 watts of DC power. An actuator is provided for rotating the central support and the support frame so that the solar cell array is maintained substantially orthogonal to the rays of the sun as the sun traverses the sky.

The present invention relates to photovoltaic power systems., photovoltaic concentrator modules, and related methods. In particular, the present invention features concentrator modules having interior points of attachment for an articulating mechanism and / or an articulating mechanism that has a unique arrangement of chassis members so as to isolate bending, etc. from being transferred among the chassis members. The present invention also features adjustable solar panel mounting features and / or mounting features with two or more degrees of freedom. The present invention also features a mechanical fastener for secondary optics in a concentrator module.

The present invention relates to a solar heating and power generation combined supply system. Said system includes the following several components: rotating parabolic saucer condenser, rotating hyperbolic spectral control system, light-gathering photovoltaic group battery and hot-pipe type water heater. Said invention also provides the concrete structure of the above-mentioned every portion and the working principle of said system.

This invention provides an inorganic coating-protected unitary graphene material article for concentrated photovoltaic cell heat dissipation. The article comprises at least a layer of unitary graphene material having two primary surfaces and an electrically non-conducting layer of inorganic coating deposited on at least one of the primary surfaces, wherein the unitary graphene material is obtained from heat-treating a graphene oxide gel at a heat treatment temperature higher than 100° C. and contains chemically bonded graphene molecules or chemically merged graphene planes having an inter-graphene spacing no greater than 0.40 nm, preferably less than 0.337 nm, and most preferably less than 0.3346 nm.

An offshore vessel embodies a mobile buoyant energy recovery system enabled to extract energy from solar power. An exemplary energy recovery system comprises concentrating solar thermal power systems (CSP) or concentrating photovoltaic power (CPV) systems on the deck of the vessel. Within the vessel hull, ballast water serves multiple purposes. The ballast not only stabilizes the vessel, but also provides reactant for hydrogen electrolysis or ammonia synthesis, or steam for a turbine. For CPV systems the ballast conducts heat as a coolant improving the efficiency and durability of photovoltaic cells. For CSP systems the ballast water becomes superheated steam through a primary heat exchanger in the concentrator. In some embodiments, some steam from the CSP primary heat exchanger or from the CPV coolant system undergoes high-pressure electrolysis of enhanced efficiency due to its high temperature. In some embodiments, the remaining steam that did not undergo electrolysis drives a steam turbine providing electrical current for electrolysis. A secondary heat exchanger takes heat from the steam expelled from an energy storage process to efficiently distill ballast water at a lower temperature thus minimizing corrosion and build-up of scale. A remote control Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) determines position, navigation, configuration, and operation of the preferably unmanned modular mobile buoyant energy recovery structure based on Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), Velocity Performance Prediction (VPP) models, Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) and various onboard sensors and controls.

A concentrator photovoltaic solar cell array for terrestrial use for generating electrical power from solar radiation including a central support which is rotatable about its central longitudinal axis, a support frame carried by, and rotatable with respect to, the central support about an axis orthogonal to said central longitudinal axis, and a solar array mounted on the support frame. The solar cell array includes a plurality of Fresnel concentrator lenses and multijunction III-V compound semiconductor solar cells each producing in excess of 10 watts of DC power. An actuator is provided for rotating the central support and the support frame so that the solar cell array is maintained substantially orthogonal to the rays of the sun as the sun traverses the sky.

The invention teaches a family of flat concentrator PV panels wherein an array of enhanced light beam splitters coupling with a plurality of optical grooves efficiently collects light and transmits collected light substantially to the active surface(s) of an array of size-reduced PV cells with low aspect ratio.

An increased efficiency Concentrator Photovoltaic System having a plurality of solar cells laterally spaced from each other on a substrate panel. The solar cells are mounted on metal traces that support the cells and provide a path for the electrical output of the individual cells. Ribbons or wires, which provide a connection between the front contact of the solar cells to the appropriate metal traces form a circuit connecting the cells in desired configurations, Intercellular areas are provided between the lateral edges of the respective solar cells. A plurality of tubular enclosures are mounted directly above the solar cells. The top edge of the tubular enclosures have a circumference greater than the circumference of the bottom edges of the tubular enclosures. The inner surfaces of the tubular enclosure walls are reflective and direct solar rays to the respective solar cells thereby increasing the efficiency of the Photovoltaic system.

The invention relates to a concentrating photovoltaic solar energy heat radiator module, and belongs to the technical field of solar power generation. The concentrating photovoltaic solar energy heat radiator module comprises primary heat dissipation fins, secondary heat dissipation fins, a heat radiator bottom plate and a concentrating photovoltaic light to electricity conversion receiver installation area, wherein a primary heat dissipation fin array and an array of the secondary heat dissipation fins of two different shapes are arranged on one surface of the heat radiator bottom plate, the secondary heat dissipation fins are arranged from the primary heat dissipation fin at the right center to the periphery of the concentrating photovoltaic solar energy heat radiator module according to a height progressive decreasing sequence, and the concentrating photovoltaic light to electricity conversion receiver installation area is installed on the other surface of the heat radiator bottom plate. The concentrating photovoltaic solar energy heat radiator module is simple in structure and low in production cost. The heat dissipation fins of the concentrating photovoltaic solar energy heat radiator module are arranged in array mode, and the secondary heat dissipation fins are lower than the primary heat dissipation fins under the circumstance that the weight of the concentrating photovoltaic solar energy heat radiator module is reduced, and accordingly heat on the primary heat dissipation fins can be rapidly transmitted into air, and heat dissipation effects of the concentrating photovoltaic solar energy heat radiator module are greatly improved. Additionally, a plurality of the concentrating photovoltaic solar energy heat radiator modules can be installed once, and therefore processing efficiency is greatly improved.

A method for bonding a concentrating photovoltaic receiver module to a heat sink using a reactive multilayer foil as a local heat source, together with layers of solder, to provide a high thermal conductivity interface with long term reliability and ease of assembly.

The invention relates to a converging photovoltaic power generation CPV module, which comprises a Fresnel lens, converging cell slices, a heat radiator and a flat box, wherein the Fresnel lens is fixed on the flat box, and is covered with a toughened glass protective layer; the converging cell slices are fixed under the flat box, and are corresponding to the focus of the Fresnel lens; moreover, the converging cell slices are connected in series or in parallel, and are fixed with the heat radiator on the edge of the converging cell slices; and the CPV module is fixed with a two-dimensional fully-automatic sun tracker. The CPV module is characterized in that a light guiding funnel is arranged between the Fresnel lens and the converging cell slices; and the lower part of the light guiding funnel is fixed with part of a secondary lens. The converging photovoltaic power generation CPV module has the advantages that the CPV module improves power generation efficiency and reduces power generation cost.

A concentrator photovoltaic solar cell array for terrestrial use for generating electrical power from solar radiation including a multifunction III-V compound semiconductor solar cell with material composition and bandgaps to maximize absorption in the AM1.5 spectral region, and a thickness of one micron or greater so as to be able to produce in excess of 15 watts of DC power with conversion efficiency in excess of 37%. The aggregate surface area of the grid pattern covers approximately 2 to 5% of the top cell.

The present invention provides an encapsulant material with a modified index of refraction for increasing the acceptance angle of a concentrated photovoltaic system. The encapsulant material may include filler material of a higher index of refraction than the encapsulant. The filler material may be particulates that are smaller than the wavelength of light converted to electricity by a solar cell.

The invention relates to a light converging device, a design method thereof and a light-converging photovoltaic power generation device. The light-converging photovoltaic power generation device comprises a light converging device and a photovoltaic cell, wherein the light converging device comprises a focusing lens used for converging external light lays, and the photovoltaic cell is used for receiving the light rays and converting optical energy into electrical energy, the light converging device further comprises a secondary lens, and the focusing lens and the secondary lens are arranged in sequence from top to bottom. The secondary lens comprises a first optical surface located on the top of the secondary lens and a second optical surface located in the middle position of the bottom of the secondary lens, the first optical surface is arranged on the focal plane of the focusing lens and converges light rays emitted by the focusing lens to the second optical surface, and the light rays are transmitted to the photovoltaic cell through the second optical surface. By applying the invention, the energy loss of light rays reaching the surface of the photovoltaic cell is reduced, the illumination intensity of light rays irradiated on the surface of the photovoltaic cell is uniform, and the application range is wide.

The invention provides systems and methods for cooling semiconductor devices, such as those provided in concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems using a cold plate. The invention also provides using a material, such as a ceramic, to form that cold plate that matches or nearly matches the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of a photovoltaic cell. Additionally, the cooling system may include fluidic passageways through which a fluid may flow, which may result in a transfer of heat between the fluid and the solid structure.

Techniques for electrical power transfer in photovoltaic systems are provided. In one aspect, a photovoltaic system includes an array of photovoltaic power producing elements (e.g., concentrator photovoltaic cells); a power receiving unit; and at least one ratiometric DC to DC converter connected to both the array of photovoltaic power producing elements and the power receiving unit. The array of photovoltaic power producing elements can include a plurality of the photovoltaic power producing elements connected in series or in parallel. In another aspect, a method of transferring electrical power from an array of photovoltaic power producing elements to a power receiving unit includes the following step. At least one ratiometric DC to DC converter is connected to both the array of photovoltaic power producing elements and the power receiving unit. The at least one ratiometric DC to DC converter is configured to alter a voltage output from the array.

A light concentrating optic for use with a photovoltaic device includes a light pipe having a first end portion for receiving light and a second end portion for outputting concentrated light. An optical element is coupled to the light pipe on the first end portion and configured to form an optical interface between the light pipe and the optical element. The optical element includes at least one light transmitting surface configured to redirect incident light entering the optical element to disperse the light to fall incident on side walls of the light pipe to increase homogeneity and intensity of light through the second end portion.

The invention relates to a dual-shaft support structure of concentration photovoltaic panel, comprising a vertical rotation shaft and a pitching rotation shaft; a vertical rotation shaft driving mechanism is arranged in a cavity column; a vertical rotation shaft is provided with a horizontal support disk; the horizontal support disk is provided with the pitching rotation shaft and a driving mechanism of the pitching rotation shaft; a worm shaft of a turbine worm reducer of a pitching rotation shaft driving mechanism is connected with a universal joint; one end of a driving arm is connected with a shaft of the universal joint; and the other end of the driving arm is connected with a driving disk of the pitching rotation shaft. A main support frame for supporting the concentration photovoltaic panel is fixed on two ends of the pitching rotation shaft; and the main support frame is provided with an upper support frame. The dual-shaft support structure of concentration photovoltaic panel has the outstanding advantages that the structure is simple and compact, the manufacturing cost is low, the controlling is reliable and the precision is high.

Embodiments of the present invention seal an inside volume of an energy conversion unit from the outside atmosphere. A chamber for housing an energy conversion unit includes a lid having a first rim, a housing having a second rim, and a continuous seal sealing the first rim to the second rim. The lid and the housing form a volume with an atmosphere for securely housing an energy conversion unit. The seal has sidewalls that extend from the first rim to the second rim and includes an embedded ribbon that extends along a length of the seal such that the atmosphere is controlled by the continuous seal. Preferably, the embedded ribbon oscillates between the sidewalls in a pattern, such as a wave, a square wave, or a zig-zag. Preferably, the energy conversion unit is a concentrator photovoltaic device that includes optics for focusing light onto a photo-sensitive area of the photovoltaic device.

Apparatus and methods according to various aspects of the present invention may operate in conjunction with a light collection array. One or more light redirectors located at or near inactive areas of light collection arrays may redirect incident light to active areas. In one embodiment, the light redirector may be implemented with additional light redirectors and / or a concentrating photovoltaic collection system.

Embodiments of the present invention control an atmosphere of a volume surrounding an energy conversion unit, such as a concentrator photovoltaic device. Differences between pressures within the volume and pressures outside the volume are controlled to reduce stress on seals and to prevent contaminants and moisture from flowing into the volume. A chamber for housing an energy conversion unit in accordance with one embodiment includes a housing and a controller. The housing defines a first unit volume for containing the energy conversion unit. The controller is coupled to the first unit volume and automatically controls an environment in the first unit volume. In one embodiment, the controller provides a flow path from a second unit volume outside the housing to a bladder within the first unit volume. In other embodiments, the controller provides gas that maintains a slight positive differential between a pressure of the first unit volume and a pressure of the second unit volume, thereby ensuring that gas and thus contaminants do not flow from the second unit volume into the first unit volume. In still other embodiments, the flow path from the second unit volume into the first unit volume includes a labyrintine tube.

An increased efficiency Concentrator Photovoltaic System having a plurality of solar cells laterally spaced from each other on a substrate panel. The solar cells are mounted on electrically conductive areas of an otherwise non-conductive top surface of the substrate with each cell isolated from another by a non-conductive area. The individual cells are connected using ribbons or wires, between the front contact of the solar cells to the conductive area of another cell to form a circuit connecting the cells in a desired configuration. A plurality of tubular enclosures for concentrating light on the solar cells are mounted directly above the solar cells.

A solar cell includes a solar cell element that converts sunlight concentrated by a concentrating lens into electricity, a receiver substrate on which the solar cell element is placed, and a resin sealing portion that resin-seals the solar cell element. The solar cell further includes a reflecting member that has an irradiation window that is disposed facing the solar cell element and through which sunlight is directed to the solar cell element, a light introducing window that is formed larger than the irradiation window and disposed facing the concentrating lens and through which sunlight is introduced, and a reflecting face that is formed between the irradiation window and the light introducing window and that reflects and guides sunlight toward the solar cell element.

The invention discloses a curved-top total reflection type twice concentration and illumination balancing integration device, which is in a V-shaped prism trapezoid structure made of solid glass. In the invention, a curved-top surface is plated with an anti-reflection film, a curved-top bottom surface is the incidence surface of a light beam, a lower bottom surface is the emitting surface of the light beam, and the area of the curved-top bottom surface is larger than the area of the lower bottom surface. The curved-top total reflection type twice concentration and illumination balancing integration device works in the following steps: the light beam is changed into a convergent light beam by passing through the once condenser of a spotlight photovoltaic module group, the convergent light beam with a large caliber enters the incidence surface of the curved-top total reflection type twice concentration and illumination balancing integration device, after the refraction of the incidence surface and multiple total reflections of sidewalls, the convergent light beam is then refracted from the emitting surface to the solar cell with a small caliber, thereby achieving the purpose of twice concentration, and the multiple total reflections from the sidewalls can promote the light spots with uneven intensity distribution to be more even, thereby realizing the homogenization of the solar cell photic surface light spot.

The invention discloses a micro light-condensing photovoltaic welding ribbon and a preparation process thereof. The micro light-condensing photovoltaic welding strip comprises a base ribbon. The base ribbon is provided with a light receiving surface, a back surface and side surfaces. The light receiving surface is of a saw-toothed structure. A reflecting plating layer is arranged on the light receiving surface. The reflecting plating layer is made of a metal or alloy material with thickness of 500nm-5 [mu]m, a melting point above 232DEG C and reflectivity above 65 percent under the illumination of light waves with wavelength in a range of 300nm-1200nm. Plating layers are arranged on the back surface and the side surfaces and are made of metal or alloy materials with thickness of 10 -25 [mu]m and a melting point below 232DEG C. The micro light-condensing photovoltaic welding ribbon disclosed by the invention has the advantages that not only can the dependence of the welding ribbon on a conductive adhesive bonding technology be reduced and can the manufacturing cost be decreased, but also the micro light-condensing effect can be improved and the power of a module is improved.

This invention relates to a quasi-two dimension tracking light-gathering photovoltaic generating device including a light-gathering solar energy battery component array parts mounted on a one dimension automatic tracking solar unit, both ends of the shaft of which are supported on frames with high and low ends by bearings separately and at least one of the frames includes a highly regulated unit, which realizes the result of a two-dimension tracking solar system with a simple height regulation unit based on a one-dimension automatic tracking solar unit.

This invention relates to a solar energy collector that converts solar radiation into both electrical and thermal energy. More specifically this invention relates to a concentrating solar energy collector with an integrated construction that minimizes cost, bulk, and weight, and maximizes overall efficiency. Typical non-concentrating solar collectors use photovoltaic cells over the entirety of their surface. These solar cells are the most expensive part of the collector. This invention discloses using a reflector to concentrate the incident radiation on photovoltaic cells with one-twentieth the area of the reflector, and transferring the co-generated thermal energy into a working fluid pumped through the cell support structure.

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.