Silver lining liquid-layer solar array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Roof solar photovoltaic systems face inefficiency due to overheating, which reduces output voltage and increases waste heat, and existing cooling methods like air dissipation are ineffective, while water cooling is complex and costly.
Innovation Solution
A solar transfer module with a waste heat transfer layer and a cascade layer using pumped water to absorb and dissipate heat, filter out unused wavelengths, provide secondary heating, and incorporate fire sprinklers for emergency use, optimizing water pumping based on temperature and energy needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If water cooling is used to cool photovoltaic cells, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to pumping requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies equipotentiality by using gravity to drive water flow through the photovoltaic cooling system. Water is pumped to the roof level once and then flows through the PV modules and down the rear surface utilizing gravitational potential energy, eliminating the need for additional pumping complexity while maintaining effective cooling throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The water cooling system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it cools the front surface of PV cells through circulation, absorbs waste heat from the rear surface, provides fire suppression capability, and can supply hot water for domestic use. This multi-functionality justifies the initial pumping complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If photovoltaic cells operate in hot environments, then installation flexibility is improved, but energy conversion efficiency deteriorates due to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cooling function into two distinct pathways: active water circulation for front surface cooling and passive gravity-driven water flow for rear surface heat absorption. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high cooling efficiency while adapting to various installation configurations on roofs with different orientations and angles.
Solution Approach 2:
Water serves as an intermediary substance that transfers heat from the photovoltaic cells to the atmosphere. The system uses water's high specific heat capacity to absorb waste heat from both surfaces of the PV modules, converting thermal energy into a transportable form that can be dissipated efficiently, thereby maintaining optimal operating temperatures regardless of environmental conditions.
3Device complexity
If air dissipation is used to cool solar modules, then device complexity is reduced, but cooling capacity is insufficient due to hot roof air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from pneumatic cooling (air dissipation) to hydraulic cooling (water circulation). Water's superior heat capacity and thermal conductivity compared to air enable effective cooling of photovoltaic modules. The system uses simple gravity-driven hydraulic flow rather than complex mechanical pumping, achieving adequate cooling capacity with minimal device complexity.
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
Enhances photovoltaic efficiency by maintaining optimal temperature, provides dual-use hot water, and offers fire protection through strategically placed sprinklers, improving energy output and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The photovoltaic layer contains an array of solar cells, electrically connected in series
Implementation Method 2
The bottom layer is a waste heat transfer layer containing heat transfer pipes tuned for absorbing heat from the bottom of the photovoltaic layer and to dissipate heat into relatively cool water pumped through the transfer pipes
Implementation Method 3
The top layer is a cascade layer with a casing transparent to solar radiation at the wavelengths used by the solar photovoltaic cells and containing a cascade of relatively cool water pumped from ground level, absorbing heat from the top surface of the photovoltaic layer
Implementation Method 4
Cascaded water layered above the photovoltaic cells filters out unused ultraviolet and infrared frequencies
Implementation Method 5
Strategically placed fire sprinklers use roof pumped water to suppress residential emergency fires and regional forest fires spreading to residential roofs
Data Source
AI summary
A Silver Lining solar transfer module incorporates roof solar photovoltaic cells in a cased layer sandwiched between two water-handling layers. The bottom waste heat layer contains heat transfer pipes tuned for absorbing heat from the bottom of the photovoltaic layer and to dissipate heat into cool water pumped through the transfer pipes from ground level. The top cascade layer uses a casing transparent to solar radiation at the wavelengths used by the solar photovoltaic cells and containing a cascade of relatively cool water pumped from ground level, absorbing heat from the photovoltaic layer. The Silver Lining module is installed with a vertical slant, so that water is gravity fed from the top edge to the bottom edge in the waste heat layer and cascade layer. Fire sprinklers are incorporated into the plumbing of a system of Silver Lining solar transfer modules and provide protection to the roof in fire emergencies.