3D Solar Cell Structure for Concentrated Photovoltaic Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar cell designs require expensive and unreliable sun-tracking systems to maximize electricity generation, and they often suffer from reduced efficiency due to temperature-related issues, as they lack effective cooling mechanisms to manage thermal energy conversion.
Innovation Solution
A 3-D solar cell structure with liquid cooling channels, eliminating the need for sun-tracking systems by capturing all incident sunlight and utilizing both electrical and thermal energy conversion, where the spent cooling liquid is recycled to warm a hot-water tank, maintaining optimal operating temperatures and enhancing energy conversion efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a sun-tracking system is used to maximize electricity generation, then power conversion efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional 2D solar cell to a 3D solar cell structure. The 3D structure comprises a base solar cell chip with vertical solar cell chips extending upward, creating multiple surfaces that can capture sunlight from different angles simultaneously. This dimensional change eliminates the need for mechanical tracking while maintaining high electricity generation across varying sun positions.
2Temperature
If conventional cooling structures are used to maintain solar cell temperature, then operating temperature is controlled, but energy efficiency is reduced due to heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful thermal energy that would normally be wasted into a useful resource. The liquid cooling system captures excess heat from the solar cell and transfers it to a thermal energy storage tank, where it is stored for later use. This transforms energy loss into energy storage, improving overall system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the heat generated during solar energy conversion, the system recovers this thermal energy through the liquid cooling mechanism and stores it in an insulated thermal energy storage tank for subsequent utilization, thereby reducing overall energy loss.
3Ease of manufacture
If solar cell temperature exceeds threshold without cooling, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but power conversion efficiency degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a liquid cooling system where coolant flows through channels in contact with the solar cell背面. This hydraulic approach efficiently removes excess heat from the solar cell, maintaining optimal operating temperature and ensuring high electricity conversion efficiency without complicating the manufacturing process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The 3-D solar cell design achieves higher energy conversion efficiency, reduces production costs, and provides a reliable, cost-effective solution for generating both thermal and electrical energy without the need for sun-tracking, while maintaining efficient operation across varying solar positions.
Implementation Method 1
concentrated photovoltaic device that is capable of generating thermal and electrical energy from solar radiation
Implementation Method 2
liquid cooling on the back side of the solar cell
Implementation Method 3
The cooling of the CPV design is another important factor in achieving long term reliability of the solar cell
Implementation Method 4
the thermal solar energy coming from the liquid cooling is recycled to heat a hot-water tank
Data Source
AI summary
A low cost design for a concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar cell device is developed with a 3-D solar cell structure that eliminates the need for sun-ray tracking and with improved electricity conversion efficiency for cooling solar cells. The 3-D solar cell structure can be built with conventional monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon or with multi-junction III-V solar material, joining two or more solar cell segments perpendicular to a base solar cell. This structure is able to collect all incident sunlight from sunrise to sunset.