Transparent Wing With Double-Sided Solar Cells for Lightweight Power Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar planes require efficient electric power generation while minimizing weight, which is challenging when mounting solar cells on both the upper and lower surfaces due to increased weight and potential shading effects.
Innovation Solution
A flight vehicle design featuring a wing with a transparent outer shell member and a light reflecting part on its inner surface, allowing light to be directed to both sides of double-side generation type solar cells, enhancing electric power generation without significant weight increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If solar cells are mounted on both the upper surface and the lower surface of the wing, then electric power generation is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the third dimension (depth/thickness of the wing) by making the wing hollow and transparent, allowing light to pass through and reach solar cells on both the upper and lower surfaces simultaneously. This transforms a two-dimensional surface mounting problem into a three-dimensional light path optimization problem, enabling dual-side power generation without simply stacking panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow wing structure acts as an intermediary medium that transmits light from the external environment to solar cells on both surfaces. The transparent outer shell and internal light-reflecting structures serve as mediators to guide and distribute light efficiently to both upper and lower solar cell arrays, enabling the wing to function as both a structural component and a light transmission channel.
2Use of energy by moving object
If solar cells are mounted on the lower surface of the wing, then electric power generation from reflected light is improved, but shading effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
By utilizing the vertical dimension and making the wing transparent, the patent allows light to reach lower surface solar cells without being blocked by upper surface structures. The hollow wing structure creates a light transmission path through the wing thickness, eliminating self-shading problems that would occur with opaque conventional wings.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of blocking light with an opaque wing structure, the patent inverts the approach by making the wing transparent and using internal light-reflecting surfaces to guide light to the solar cells. This reversal of the traditional opaque wing concept allows light to pass through and be redirected to lower surface cells without shading interference.
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
Improves electric power generation by redirecting light to both sides of the solar cells, minimizing weight increase and optimizing power generation efficiency while maintaining aircraft performance.
Implementation Method 1
a light reflecting part provided on an inner surface of the outer shell member, light incident from a lower surface of the wing through the outer shell member on a lower surface of the wing in which the light reflecting part is not provided is incident on lower surfaces of the solar cells
Data Source
AI summary
A flight vehicle of an embodiment includes a wing, double-side generation type solar cells, and a light reflecting part. The wing has an outer shell member. The outer shell member has transmittance. The wing is formed by an outer shell member in a hollow shape. The solar cells are disposed on the upper surface of the wing. The light reflecting part is provided on an inner surface of the outer shell member.