47 results about "Photovoltaic energy conversion" patented technology

A monolithic, multi-bandgap, tandem solar photovoltaic converter has at least one, and preferably at least two, subcells grown lattice-matched on a substrate with a bandgap in medium to high energy portions of the solar spectrum and at least one subcell grown lattice-mismatched to the substrate with a bandgap in the low energy portion of the solar spectrum, for example, about 1 eV.

A photovoltaic energy conversion system includes a distributed control structure for groups of cells of each multi-cellular panel, the components of which are entirely physically integrated in the photovoltaic panel. Each multi-cellular photovoltaic panel has a DC bus, supplied in parallel by a plurality of DC-DC converters, each provided with a controller that controls the working point of the photovoltaic cells coupled to the input of the DC-DC converter for a maximum yield of electric power by implementing a relatively simple MPPT algorithm. The controller includes a logic circuit and A/D converters of analog signals representing the input voltage and the input current generated by the group of cells that is coupled to the input of the DC-DC converter and optionally also of the output voltage of the converter, and a relatively simple D/A converter of the drive control signal of the power switch of the DC-DC converter.

A multijunction, monolithic, photovoltaic (PV) cell and device (600) is provided for converting radiant energy to photocurrent and photovoltage with improved efficiency. The PV cell includes an array of subcells (602), i.e., active p/n junctions, grown on a compliant substrate, where the compliant substrate accommodates greater flexibility in matching lattice constants to adjacent semiconductor material. The lattice matched semiconductor materials are selected with appropriate band-gaps to efficiently create photovoltage from a larger portion of the solar spectrum. Subcell strings (601, 603) from multiple PV cells are voltage matched to provide high output PV devices. A light emitting cell and device is also provided having monolithically grown red-yellow and green emission subcells and a mechanically stacked blue emission subcell.

A light emitting charger is provided. The light emitting charger delivers light energy to a portable electronic device having a rechargeable battery. The electronic device is equipped with a photovoltaic energy conversion device that converts the transferred light into an electrical current that can be used to charge the battery. Through alternate communication mechanisms, the electronic device can alert the charger as to when to illuminate the light sources and which light sources to illuminate. The charger is equipped with photo detectors for receiving photo communication from the electronic device. In one embodiment, the charger periodically pulses one or more light sources until it receives light reflected from reflective material disposed along the electronic device. When the reflective light is received, the charger may actuate a plurality of light sources in a predetermined pattern corresponding to the amount or location of the reflective light. In another embodiment, the electronic device is equipped with a photo communication light source, and may communicate with the charger through pulsed light.

The invention relates to a solar photovoltaic energy conversion apparatus. The apparatus consists of a substrate, a buffer layer formed on the substrate layer, a first transparent conductive oxide layer formed on the buffer layer, periodic protrusions containing first silicon layers formed on the first transparent conductive oxide layer, second silicon layers formed on the first silicon layers, a second transparent conductive oxide layer covering the first silicon layers, the second silicon layers and the first transparent conductive oxide layer, and an anti-reflective protective layer. The first silicon layer and the second silicon layer are the electrodes with the opposite type of charge carriers. The first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer are the electrodes with the opposite type of charge carriers. This TCO-based hybrid solar photovoltaic energy conversion device not only can allow the transmission of visible sunlight but also can enhance the photovoltaic energy.

A power conversion system (10) includes a converter system (14) for converting input power from a power source (12) and providing output power; a transformer (24) for providing voltage or current transformation of the output power and isolation between the converter system (14) and a load (18); and a converter controller (16). The converter controller (16) includes an open-circuit detection module (210) for receiving a first electrical signal (148. 52) and a second electrical signal (148, 152) measured at one side of the transformer (24); determining whether a difference value between the measured first and second electrical signals is smaller than a predetermined threshold value; and sending a control signal (168, 172) to cause the converter system (14) to reduce the magnitude of the output power upon determination that the difference value is smaller than the predetermined threshold value. The first and second electrical signals include current or voltage signals.

A cascaded photovoltaic/thermophotovoltaic energy conversion apparatus, a cascaded thermophotovoltaic energy conversion apparatus, and a method for forming the apparatuses are provided. The cascaded photovoltaic/thermophotovoltauc apparatus includes a photovoltaic device that receives solar radiation on an upper surface thereof and produces a first electric current output and a thermal radiation output, and a thermophotovoltaic device disposed a predetermined distance below a lower surface of the photovoltaic device, the thermophotovoltaic device receiving the thermal radiation output and converting the received thermal radiation output into a second electric current output. The cascaded thermophotovoltaic apparatus includes a radiator maintained at constant temperature via an external heat input on its upper surface and produces a thermal radiation output, and a thermophotovoltaic device disposed a predetermined distance below a lower surface of the radiator, the thermophotovoltaic device receiving the thermal radiation output and converting the received thermal radiation output into a first electric current output.

Polymerizable anions and/or cations can be used as the ionically conductive species for the formation of a p-i-n junction in conjugated polymer thin films. After the junction is formed, the ions are polymerized in situ, and the junction is locked thereafter. The resulting polymer p-i-n junction diodes could have a high current rectification ratio. Electroluminescence with high quantum efficiency and low operating voltage may be produced from this locked junction. The diodes may also be used for photovoltaic energy conversion. In a photovoltaic cell, the built-in potential helps separate electron-hole pairs and increases the open-circuit voltage.

A photovoltaic generation system using grid-connected parallel inverters comprises a plurality of photovoltaic generation devices connected in parallel with each other, and a transformer configured to transform and transfer output voltages of the photovoltaic generation devices to a grid, wherein the photovoltaic generation device includes: a photovoltaic module configured to convert photovoltaic energy into DC electrical energy; an inverter configured to convert the DC electrical energy outputted from the photovoltaic module into AC electrical energy; an LC filter configured to remove noise included in the AC electrical energy which is outputted from the inverter; and a Y-connected capacitor group which is connected between one terminal of a reactor in the LC filter and one terminal of the photovoltaic module and is configured to reduce stray current.

The invention discloses an alternate current network phase change detection system which comprises a coordinate transformation device and a phase change detection device. The coordinate transformation device receives a one-phase or multi-phase network voltage feedback signal and generates a first voltage component signal and a second voltage component signal under a stationary coordinate. The phase change detection device receives the first voltage component signal and the second voltage component signal, and calculates out a phase deviation signal which represents the phase change which exists in the one-phase or multi-phase voltage feedback signal at least based on the first voltage component signal and the second voltage component signal. The invention further discloses an alternate current network instantaneous phase angle generation system, an energy conversion system, a photovoltaic energy conversion system, a phase change detection method and a phase change compensation method.

The invention discloses an energy conversion system which comprises a converter device and a converter controller. The converter device is used for converting input energy provided by an energy source into output energy, and the converter controller is used for adjusting the active component and the reactive component of the output energy. The converter controller comprises an island protection module which is used for receiving electrical parameter values detected by the output end of the converter device, generating island disturbing signals and disturbing compensating signals at least according to the measured electrical parameter values, and acting the island disturbing signals and the disturbing compensating signals to be used for adjusting one or both of the active component and the reactive component of the output energy, and therefore the measured electrical parameter values can be moved outside a normal range when an island condition happens.

The invention discloses an energy conversion system. The energy conversion system comprises a converter device and a converter controller. The converter device is used for converting input energy provided by an energy source into output energy which comprises active power and reactive power. The converter controller is connected with the converter device, and is used for adjusting the active power and the reactive power output by the converter device. The converter controller comprises a voltage collapse detecting module which is used for detecting whether at least one voltage collapse condition exists or not when the energy conversion system runs. The invention further discloses the converter controller, a voltage collapse condition detecting device and method, and a photovoltaic energy conversion system.

The present invention includes upconversion materials such as lanthanide-sensitized oxides that are useful for converting low-energy photons into high-energy photons. Because silicon-based solar cells have an intrinsic optical band-gap of 1.1 eV, low-energy photons having a wavelength longer than 1100 nm, e g., infrared photons, cannot be absorbed by the solar cell and used for photovoltaic energy conversion. Only those photons that have an energy equal to or greater than the solar cell's band gap, e.g., visible photons, can be absorbed and used for photovoltaic energy conversion. The oxides described herein transform photons having an energy less than the energy of a solar cell's band gap into photons having an energy equal to or greater than the energy of the band gap. When these oxides are incorporated into a solar cell, they provide more photons for photovoltaic energy conversion than otherwise would be available in their absence. Nearly 10% of the infrared photons incident on these oxides are upconverted into visible photons. This upconversion efficiency is more than twice as large as the upconversion efficiency for NaYF₄-based upconversion materials. The solar radiation energy conversion efficiency of a silicon-based solar cell will increase by 1.8% or greater by including the oxides described herein because they allow the solar cell to absorb and use are larger portion of the solar spectrum for photovoltaic energy conversion.

A tandem solar cell structure is described, having the following features: (a) a monolithic structure having at least two different absorbers (104, 108) made from different materials for photovoltaicenergy conversion, (b) an absorber (108) consisting of crystalline silicon, (c) a charge-carrier-selective contact on that side of the silicon absorber (108) which is directed to the adjoining absorber (104), (d) a structure of the charge-carrier-selective contact made from a thin interface oxide 107 and an amorphous, semi-crystalline or polycrystalline layer which consists mainly of silicon, is either p-doped (106) or n-doped (201), and is applied to said contact. The charge-carrier-selective contact constructed from the layers 107 and 106 or 201 ensures excellent surface passivation of the crystalline silicon absorber 108 and the selective extraction of a charge carrier type from the latter over the entire surface. A vertical current flow is therefore achieved, with the result that lateral transverse conductivity is not required in each sub-cell. High doping of the layer 106 or 201 may form a tunnel contact with respect to the adjoining layer. The thickness and/or doping of the layer106 or 201 can be used to adjust the generation currents in the individual sub-cells. The temperature stability of the layers 107, 106 or 201 makes it possible to use subsequent production steps at temperatures of > 400 DEG C.

The invention relates to an energy conversion system, a photovoltaic energy conversion system and a method. The method comprises at least the following steps that: at least a maximum phase angle limiting signal and minimum phase angle limiting signal are generated at least based on current threshold values related to a converter device; a phase angle limiting adjustment signal is generated at least based on a direct current voltage instruction signal and an actual voltage signal related to the direct current link; the phase angle limiting adjustment signal is utilized to adjust at least one of the maximum phase angle limiting signal and the minimum phase angle limiting signal; and at least one of the maximum phase angle limiting signal and the minimum phase angle limiting signal is utilized to limit the phase angle instruction signal.

The invention provides a sun-chasing power generation device. The sun-chasing power generation device comprises a first controller, a photoelectric detection unit, a support frame, a plurality of photovoltaic panels, a driving mechanism and an energy storage loop, wherein the plurality of photovoltaic panels are movably arranged on the support frame, an output shaft of the driving mechanism is connected with the plurality of photovoltaic panels, and the photoelectric detection unit is arranged in the middle of the plurality of photovoltaic panels; the input end of the first controller is electrically connected with the photoelectric detection unit, the output end of the first controller is electrically connected with the input end of the driving mechanism, the energy storage loop is electrically connected with the plurality of photovoltaic panels, and the output end of the energy storage loop is used for being connected with a load; and the first controller is used for receiving the photoelectric signals acquired by the photoelectric detection unit and driving the driving mechanism according to the photoelectric signals so as to drive the plurality of photovoltaic panels to move towards light. Based on the device, the problem that the load cannot work due to low photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency in the prior art is solved.

The invention relates to a solar intelligent power supply device and a management control method for military communication equipment, belonging to the technical field of solar military communication equipment. The technical features include a photoelectric energy conversion system, an intelligent management control system, and an energy storage system to form a charging device 1 , and the multi-dimensional folded photovoltaic module 101 and control box 102 can be placed in a backpack 103 . The voltage and current information is collected by the control box 102, and the intelligent control center modules 102-801 process the energy information. The packaging of chips 101-3, hollowed through holes 101-10, confluence technology, etc. of the flexible photovoltaic module 101 have outstanding creativity and significant progress. It solves the problem that the electrodes are easy to break, and the overall module combination is light in weight. Suitable for individual combat, easy to carry, easy to obtain, and various types of communication equipment power supply, low-power, medium-power, high-power communication equipment emergency charging.

The invention discloses a photovoltaic panel assembly capable of improving the photovoltaic energy conversion effect, belongs to the field of photovoltaic panel assemblies, and aims at solving the problems that the existing photovoltaic panel assembly cannot rotate along with sunshine for a long time under sunlight radiation, the photovoltaic panel assembly is not provided with a heat dissipationdevice, and most of the photovoltaic panel assemblies are not provided with a panel cleaning device; the following scheme is provided, wherein the photovoltaic panel assembly comprises a photovoltaicpanel main body; one side of the photovoltaic panel main body is wrapped and connected with a cleaning heat dissipation device; a supporting device is welded to the lower surface of the cleaning heatdissipation device; a bottom plate is arranged at the lower end of the photovoltaic panel main body; and a first ENA adhesive film is arranged above the interior of the bottom plate. The photovoltaicpanel assembly is provided with the heat dissipation device, the photovoltaic panel assembly is provided with the panel cleaning device, and the panel is in a design form without a frame body, so thatthe angle of the photovoltaic panel main body can be intelligently changed, the irradiation time of light rays is long, and the working efficiency is improved.

The invention discloses a high-generating-efficiency solar cell based on an electrochromic device and a making method of the solar cell. Improvement is conducted on the structure of the electrochromic device and a making technology, therefore, the electrochromic device has the self-power supply advantage, and the high-generating-efficiency solar cell based on the electrochromic device is made, wherein the solar cell is extremely high in photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency, the service life is prolonged, and the cold resistance is good. The method is simple and easy to operate, and industrial production is easy. At room temperature, a 1,000 W simulated sunlight source xenon lamp (Oriel 91192, USA) and a Keithly 2400source meter are used, the photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency is measured to range from 8.28% to 10.58% on the condition that the irradiation intensity is 100 W/cm<2>, and the irradiation area of the cell is 0.25 cm<2>, and after circulation is conducted 5,000 times, the photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency is measured to range from 8.01% to 10.56%.