CPV Receiver Device with Direct Cooling Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
In concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) systems, the efficiency of multijunction solar cells is reduced due to increasing operating temperature, and existing receiver devices have thermal exchange limitations due to interposing materials and fluid flow paths, affecting heat management and energy conversion efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A receiver device with a photovoltaic substrate directly bonded to a frame and heat regulator element, allowing direct contact between the refrigerating fluid and the substrate for enhanced thermal exchange, and featuring a structural configuration for easy assembly, disassembly, and maintenance, with electrical insulation and sealing capabilities to support high efficiency and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multijunction solar cells are used in CPV systems to improve energy conversion efficiency, then the efficiency increases, but the operating temperature increases which causes the electrical performance to drastically decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal management function from the traditional integrated receiver design by introducing a separate heat exchanger unit with cooling channels. This allows the photovoltaic cells to be thermally decoupled from the heat exchange process, removing the harmful thermal accumulation while preserving the energy conversion function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary component between the solar concentrator and the photovoltaic cells. This mediator transfers thermal energy away from the cells through cooling fluid circulation, enabling the cells to maintain optimal operating temperature while the system continues to convert solar energy efficiently.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional receiver devices with interposing materials and closed ducts are used, then structural stability is maintained, but thermal exchange efficiency decreases due to thermal resistance from glues, pastes, and duct thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the photovoltaic cells from direct contact with the heat exchanger structure, extracting them into a separate mounted position. This eliminates the need for thermal paste and soldering glue interfaces, removing the primary sources of thermal resistance while maintaining structural integrity through mechanical mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thin-walled heat exchanger ducts with thickness of 0.5-2mm instead of traditional thick ducts. This reduces the thermal resistance of the duct walls significantly, improving heat exchange efficiency while maintaining sufficient structural strength through optimized wall thickness and design.
3Strength
If refrigerating fluid flows in closed ducts with thickness of 2.5-5mm, then structural integrity is maintained, but thermal exchange between the cell and external ambient is influenced negatively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes thin-walled ducts with thickness reduced to 0.5-2mm for the heat exchanger channels. This significant reduction in wall thickness minimizes thermal resistance and improves heat transfer efficiency, while the ducts maintain sufficient structural integrity through optimized geometry and material selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction for the heat exchanger, combining materials with high thermal conductivity for the duct walls to minimize thermal resistance. The composite structure allows thin walls to maintain both structural strength and optimal thermal exchange properties.
4Strength
If soldering glues and fixing means with thermal pastes are used to connect printed circuit board to heat spreader, then mechanical connection and thermal compensation are achieved, but heat exchange is affected due to interposing elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the photovoltaic cells from direct thermal contact with the heat exchanger, mounting them separately on the heat spreader. This eliminates the need for thermal paste and soldering glue between the cells and heat exchange structure, removing the interposing thermal resistance layers while maintaining mechanical connection through alternative mounting methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated heat spreader as an intermediary component between the photovoltaic cells and the heat exchanger. This mediator provides both mechanical support for the cells and thermal conduction to the cooling system, eliminating the need for problematic thermal pastes and glues while maintaining effective heat transfer.
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 solution enables efficient conversion of concentrated solar energy into electrical and thermal energy with minimized thermal resistance, allowing for effective heat recovery and easy upgrading of components, thereby improving the overall efficiency and reliability of CPV systems.
Implementation Method 1
an upper surface (11) comprising a photovoltaic device (13) for receiving concentrated solar energy and generating electric current
Implementation Method 2
a heat regulator element (30) comprising at least a channel (31) for the passage of a refrigerating fluid
Implementation Method 3
the refrigerating fluid being in direct contact with the lower surface (12) of the photovoltaic substrate (10)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(d)
Figure 3
AI summary
Receiver device (1) integrable in a concentrating solar photovoltaic apparatus for converting solar energy into electrical and thermal energy, the device comprising a photovoltaic substrate (10) having an upper surface (11) and a lower surface (12) opposite to the upper surface (11), the upper surface (11) comprising a photovoltaic device (13) for receiving concentrated solar energy and generating electric current and electrical connectors (14) coupled to the photovoltaic device (13) for conducting the generated electrical current outside the device (1), a frame element (20) having an upper aperture (21) faced to a lower portion of the concentrating solar photovoltaic apparatus and a lower aperture (22) faced to the upper surface (11) of the photovoltaic substrate (10), and a heat regulator element (30) comprising at least a channel (31) for the passage of a refrigerating fluid, the channel (31) communicating with an upper aperture (32) faced to the lower surface (12) of the photovoltaic substrate (10), wherein in assembled configuration the lower aperture (22) of the frame element (20) is positioned at the upper aperture (32) of the heat regulator element (30) and the photovoltaic substrate (10) is configured to be located between the frame element (20) and the heat regulator element (30) in order hermetically close both the lower aperture (22) of the frame element (20) and the upper aperture (32) of the heat regulator element (30), the refrigerating fluid being in direct contact with the lower surface (12) of the photovoltaic substrate (10).