TPV Power Generation Unit With IR Reflection for Lower-Cost Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing TPV power generation systems face high costs due to the use of specialized materials for efficient infrared ray conversion, and commercially available solar panels are inefficient when used with infrared emitters due to mismatched wavelength ranges.
Innovation Solution
A power generation system with a photoelectric conversion element and a reflection section that converts infrared rays emitted from an emitter into electric energy, using a silicon substrate and reflecting transmitted rays back to the emitter to enhance energy conversion efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a special material photoelectric conversion cell is used to efficiently convert infrared rays, then power generation efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive specialized infrared photoelectric conversion materials with commercially available solar panels that have a shorter operational lifespan for this specific application. This substitution dramatically reduces manufacturing costs while still achieving functional power generation from infrared rays, accepting that the solar panels may need replacement sooner than specialized materials would require
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by positioning the solar panel at a specific distance from the infrared emitter and introducing a reflection section to redirect transmitted infrared rays back to the emitter. This parameter optimization allows standard solar panels to achieve reasonable power generation efficiency from infrared radiation without requiring specialized expensive materials
2Ease of manufacture
If a commercially available solar panel is used to reduce costs, then manufacturing cost decreases, but power generation efficiency worsens due to wavelength mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a reflection section that captures infrared rays transmitted through the solar panel and redirects them back toward the emitter. This creates a continuous cycle where infrared energy that would otherwise be lost is reused, maintaining and enhancing power generation efficiency despite using standard solar panels not optimized for infrared wavelengths
Solution Approach 2:
The reflection section acts as a feedback mechanism, taking the infrared rays that pass through the solar panel and feeding them back into the system by redirecting them to the emitter. This feedback loop ensures that the infrared energy is utilized more completely, compensating for the wavelength mismatch between standard solar panels and infrared radiation
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 efficiently generates power while reducing costs by utilizing a silicon-based photoelectric conversion element and reflection section, improving energy conversion efficiency and reducing heat source input.
Implementation Method 1
a photoelectric conversion element configured to convert the infrared ray emitted from the emitter into the electric energy
Implementation Method 2
a reflection section provided on a side opposite to a side of the emitter with respect to the power generation section and configured to reflect at least a portion of the infrared ray transmitted through the power generation section to the side of the emitter
Data Source
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AI summary
A power generation system includes an emitter heated by heat supplied from a heat source and configured to emit an infrared ray, and a power generation unit disposed at an interval from the emitter and configured to generate power by converting the infrared ray emitted from the emitter into electric energy. The power generation unit includes a power generation section including a photoelectric conversion element configured to convert the infrared ray emitted from the emitter into the electric energy, and a reflection section provided on a side opposite to a side of the emitter with respect to the power generation section and configured to reflect at least a portion of the infrared ray transmitted through the power generation section to the side of the emitter.