Solar receivers and methods for capturing solar energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solar power systems face challenges in achieving high efficiency due to optical losses, radiative heat losses, and the inability to integrate photovoltaic (PV) systems with solar thermal systems for simultaneous electricity and heat generation.
Innovation Solution
A solar receiver system that combines a thermal receiver with a photovoltaic receiver, allowing concentrated solar energy to be used for both electricity generation through PV cells and heat absorption, while minimizing heat losses via radial design and air cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If solar thermal systems use conventional receiver designs with channels, then heat transfer fluid can be heated, but solar irradiance penetration is limited and radiative heat loss increases near the aperture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional 2D channel-based heat transfer to a 3D volumetric heat transfer approach using an absorbing medium that fills the receiver volume. This dimensional change allows solar irradiance to penetrate deeper into the receiver volume, creating a volumetric absorption zone that reduces radiative heat loss at the aperture while effectively heating the heat transfer fluid throughout the volume rather than just at channel surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a porous absorbing medium (such as ceramic foam or sintered metal) as the heat transfer medium. This porous structure provides high surface area for heat absorption while maintaining optical transparency to allow deep penetration of solar irradiance. The porous material absorbs solar energy throughout its volume and transfers heat to the flowing fluid, solving both the penetration depth and heat transfer efficiency problems.
2Power
If photovoltaic systems use traditional non-transmissive panels, then electricity can be generated, but solar thermal energy cannot pass through to heat underlying components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the PV panel selectively transmissive to thermal infrared wavelengths while absorbing visible sunlight for electricity generation. The PV panel is designed with specific material properties that allow it to be opaque to the solar spectrum (for power generation) but transparent to thermal radiation (for heat transfer). This localized spectral selectivity enables dual functionality: electricity generation at the panel surface and thermal energy transmission to the underlying volumetric receiver.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining PV cells with infrared-transparent substrates or coatings. This composite construction allows the PV panel to maintain its electricity-generating function while enabling thermal radiation to pass through to the heat transfer medium below, effectively coupling photovoltaic and solar thermal functions in a single integrated component.
3Power
If solar power systems use only photovoltaic cells, then electricity can be generated directly, but system efficiency is limited by inability to exploit full solar spectrum and high installation costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges photovoltaic electricity generation with solar thermal energy conversion in a single integrated system. The PV panel and volumetric thermal receiver are combined such that the PV panel generates electricity from visible sunlight while simultaneously allowing thermal infrared radiation to pass through to heat the volumetric absorbing medium. This merging enables the system to utilize different portions of the solar spectrum through different conversion mechanisms, thereby increasing overall energy utilization efficiency.
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 integration enhances system efficiency by allowing deeper penetration of solar irradiance and reducing radiative heat loss, enabling simultaneous electricity and thermal energy generation with improved PV operation.
Implementation Method 1
The photovoltaic receiver includes photovoltaic cells that convert incident sunlight into electricity by the photovoltaic effect
Implementation Method 2
The thermal receiver includes a plurality of heat absorbing bodies defining a passageway... absorbing a portion of the concentrated solar energy passing through the photovoltaic receiver into a plurality of heat absorbing bodies
Implementation Method 3
heating air passing over the plurality of heat absorbing bodies
Data Source
AI summary
Thermal receivers, systems, and methods are disclosed that efficiently capture concentrated solar energy into a plurality of heat absorption bodies for conversion into thermal energy. In an embodiment, the thermal receivers, systems, and methods enable simultaneous electricity conversion and thermal energy capture. The receiver design enables a high penetration of concentrated sunlight deep into the thermal receiver to increase light trapping and reduce thermal losses. The thermal receiver is integrated with a photovoltaic (PV) receiver platform that converts some of the incident light to electricity while passing the remaining light to the thermal receiver. In another embodiment, other thermal receivers, systems, and methods are disclosed that efficiently capture concentrated solar energy into a sheet of falling particles. In an embodiment, the thermal receivers, systems, and methods enable simultaneous electricity conversion and thermal energy capture.