Non-uniformly Cooled Photovoltaic Cells for Concentrated Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concentrated photovoltaic systems face challenges with non-uniform illumination patterns due to imperfect mirror topologies, leading to inefficiencies and increased heat generation in dense array systems, which affects the electrical output and cooling requirements of photovoltaic cells.
Innovation Solution
A photovoltaic system with a cooling device comprising layers that vary in thermal resistance across the array of PV cells, allowing for different heat removal rates and modulating temperatures to reduce non-uniformities in output characteristics, particularly by structuring the layers with non-uniform patterns of orifices or structures to match the illumination profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If concentrated sunlight is used to increase power density, then energy conversion efficiency improves, but non-uniform illumination patterns cause temperature variations and electrical output non-uniformities
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device is designed with spatially varying thermal resistance properties to match the non-uniform illumination pattern. Different regions of the cooling device have different thermal conductivities or geometries, allowing cells receiving higher illumination to be cooled more effectively than cells in lower illumination regions, thereby maintaining temperature uniformity across the array.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the thermal resistance parameter of the cooling device across different spatial locations. By varying thermal conductivity, thickness, or geometric configuration of the cooling structure, the system adapts the cooling capability to match the local heat generation rate caused by non-uniform illumination, resolving the temperature uniformity issue.
2Ease of operation
If uniform cooling is applied to all PV cells, then manufacturing and operation is simplified, but cells with different illumination levels exhibit different output characteristics reducing overall efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device incorporates spatially varying thermal resistance properties to match the non-uniform illumination pattern. Different regions of the cooling device have different thermal conductivities or geometries, allowing cells receiving higher illumination to be cooled more effectively than cells in lower illumination regions, thereby maintaining temperature uniformity across the array.
3Area of stationary object
If dense array configuration is used to increase power density, then land usage efficiency improves, but heat removal becomes more challenging and pumping power increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device is designed with spatially varying thermal resistance properties to match the non-uniform illumination pattern. Different regions of the cooling device have different thermal conductivities or geometries, allowing cells receiving higher illumination to be cooled more effectively than cells in lower illumination regions, thereby maintaining temperature uniformity across the array.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of non-uniform illumination into a beneficial design parameter. By analyzing the illumination pattern and designing the cooling device to match it, the system uses the known non-uniformity to optimize cooling distribution, reducing overall pumping power requirements compared to uniform cooling of all cells.
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
This solution reduces the spread of output voltages at the maximum power point, enabling better electrical matching and increased energy efficiency, allowing for improved performance in dense arrays and hybrid systems by optimizing heat removal and reducing pumping power.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device, which comprises one or more layers, wherein the layers extend opposite to the array of PV cells and in thermal communication therewith, for cooling the cells
Implementation Method 2
remove heat from PV cells of the array with different heat removal rates
Implementation Method 3
Photovoltaics (PV) describes the generation of electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity through semiconductors exhibiting the photovoltaic effect
Data Source
AI summary
One or more embodiments of the present invention are directed to a photovoltaic system. The system comprises photovoltaic cells, arranged side-by-side to form an array of photovoltaic cells. It further involves a cooling device, which comprises one or more layers, wherein the layers extend opposite to the array of photovoltaic cells and in thermal communication therewith, for cooling the cells, in operation. The one or more layers are structured such that a thermal resistance of the photovoltaic system varies across the array of photovoltaic cells, so as to remove heat from photovoltaic cells of the array with different heat removal rates, in operation. One or more embodiments of the present invention are further directed to related systems and methods for cooling such photovoltaic systems.