Solar Cell Lens Filter Spectrum Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar energy generation systems, particularly photovoltaic systems, are inefficient in high temperature environments as they fail to utilize infrared light and suffer from decreased efficiency due to heat, necessitating additional cooling measures.
Innovation Solution
A solar energy generation system that employs a lens part with a filter to separate solar energy into suitable and unsuitable spectrum ranges for photovoltaic and thermoelectric generation, respectively, allowing for efficient use of both ultraviolet and visible light and infrared light, thereby preventing efficiency drops in solar cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional photovoltaic system uses only ultraviolet and visible light for electricity generation, then the system structure is simple, but the solar energy utilization efficiency is low because infrared light (42% of total solar energy) is not used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the solar spectrum into two segments: ultraviolet and visible light (200-800 nm) directed to the photovoltaic cell for electricity generation, and infrared light (800-3000 nm) directed to the thermoelectric module for heat conversion. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in converting its optimal wavelength range, thereby increasing overall solar energy utilization efficiency without requiring a completely complex new system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens part is designed with multi-functionality: it focuses ultraviolet and visible light onto the photovoltaic cell while simultaneously focusing infrared light onto the thermoelectric module. This single optical component performs dual functions, enabling the system to utilize both photovoltaic and thermoelectric effects from one solar energy input, thus improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Productivity
If additional thermoelectric equipment is added to utilize infrared light, then solar energy utilization efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the photovoltaic electricity generation system and the thermoelectric heat conversion system into a single integrated hybrid generation system. Both systems share common components including the lens part for optical focusing, the housing structure, and the control unit. This merging approach allows the system to utilize both ultraviolet/visible light and infrared light simultaneously, improving solar energy utilization efficiency while avoiding the complexity of completely separate systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the solar cell operates in high temperature environment, then the system can work in regions like Southeast Asia and Africa, but the solar cell efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the infrared light (800-3000 nm) from the solar spectrum and directs it separately to the thermoelectric module, preventing this thermal radiation from heating the photovoltaic cell. By taking out the infrared portion that causes temperature rise, the system maintains solar cell efficiency even in high temperature environments while still utilizing this energy for electricity generation through the thermoelectric effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens part acts as an intermediary that selectively directs different wavelength ranges to different conversion mechanisms. It mediates between the solar spectrum and the conversion components, ensuring that ultraviolet and visible light reach the photovoltaic cell while infrared light reaches the thermoelectric module. This intermediary function protects the solar cell from excessive heating while maintaining high efficiency operation in hot climates.
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 system enhances solar energy generation efficiency by 2% through thermoelectric generation and an additional 1.7% by effectively cooling the solar cell, allowing for efficient operation in high temperature environments like Southeast Asia and Africa without reducing photovoltaic generation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a lens part reflecting the solar energy in the spectrum range suitable for the photovoltaic generation to a photovoltaic generation part
Implementation Method 2
transmitting a solar energy in a spectrum range unsuitable for the photovoltaic generation to a thermoelectric generation part
Implementation Method 3
a filter coated on a solar energy incident surface of a lens part, reflecting a specific range of spectrum and transmitting a remaining range of the spectrum
Implementation Method 4
a solar cell including a compound semiconductor like gallium arsenide (GaAs), single crystal silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and so on which may have photovoltaic effect, is used to absorb the solar energy to generate electricity
Implementation Method 5
a thermoelectric module unit disposed for thermoelectric generation
Data Source
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AI summary
A solar energy generation system for high temperature environment includes a solar cell and a first filter. The solar cell is disposed for photovoltaic generation. The first filter is disposed on an incident surface of the solar cell, transmits a first solar energy of an incident solar energy having a first spectrum range suitable for photovoltaic generation to the solar cell, and reflects a second solar energy having a second spectrum range except for the first spectrum range of the incident solar energy.