Underground Light Room Solar Plant Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional solar power plants face inefficiencies due to light reflection, temperature increases, exposure to outside elements, and large land usage, which reduce electricity generation and impact environmental sustainability.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates an underground 'Light Room' with commercially available mirrors and PV modules, where sunlight is redirected and trapped using mirror arrays, maintaining low module temperatures and cleanliness, and reducing land use by moving PV modules underground, with a service chamber for easy access and a cooling system to enhance efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If PV modules are placed above ground in conventional solar power plants, then installation and maintenance are easier, but land usage is excessive and modules are exposed to dust and temperature increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidland usage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves PV modules from the ground surface to an underground chamber, transitioning from a two-dimensional surface installation to a three-dimensional subsurface structure. This allows the solar power plant to generate electricity underground while preserving the land surface for agricultural or other uses, effectively adding a vertical dimension to the installation space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If PV modules are exposed to sunlight directly above ground, then electricity generation occurs, but modules heat up reducing efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectricity generationVSAvoidmodule temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces mirrors as an intermediary element that redirects sunlight to the underground PV modules. The mirrors capture solar energy above ground and channel it through openings into the underground chamber, allowing the modules to receive sufficient light for electricity generation while remaining in a cooler underground environment that prevents overheating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If PV modules are placed above ground, then they receive sunlight, but they accumulate dust and dirt requiring periodic cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectricity generationVSAvoiddust and dirt accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the PV modules from the above-ground environment and places them in an enclosed underground chamber. This separation removes the modules from direct exposure to dust, dirt, and other contaminants that would otherwise accumulate on their surfaces and reduce efficiency, while the chamber can be sealed to maintain a cleaner environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If mirrors are used to concentrate sunlight on PV modules, then electricity generation increases, but light reflection reduces absorbed sunlight percentage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectricity generationVSAvoidreflected light energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of light reflection, which normally reduces energy absorption, into a beneficial mechanism by using mirrors to deliberately reflect and redirect sunlight toward the underground PV modules. The mirrors capture reflected sunlight that would otherwise be lost and channel it into the chamber, turning the reflection problem into an advantage for increasing electricity generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 design significantly increases electricity generation per unit area, reduces maintenance and operational costs, and minimizes land use, while maintaining high efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Implementation Method 1

Sunlight is directed and trapped inside the Light Room by utilizing various arrays of mirrors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

commercially available photovoltaic (PV) modules

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotovoltaic effect: Photovoltaic Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11316470B2Solar power plant design with underground light room

Publication Date: 2022.04.26 UNAL CAN BARAN

AI summary

A new solar power plant design that utilizes a “Light Room” built underground, commercially available mirrors used in CSP and CPV power plants, and also commercially available PV modules. The usage of a Light Room built underground significantly increases sunlight to electricity conversion efficiency by a higher percentage of sunlight directed towards the PV modules, which are kept cool and clean via fans. Construction, operations and maintenance become easier, faster and cheaper. Overall land usage requirement, investment cost per unit installed power and LCOE are significantly reduced. The design allows installation in rural and urban areas, making it possible for applications not feasible with the current state of the art.