Rotating Photovoltaic Cells

• US 20100139738A1
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert F. Pienkowski, William Edward Lee
• Original Assignee: Robert F. Pienkowski, William Edward Lee
• Inventors: Pienkowski, Robert F., Lee, William Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,653,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0521 using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/425 using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/966 Powered by renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

An apparatus is provided that comprises photovoltaic cells provided on a first rotatable member, an electric motor having an axial shaft, and a second rotatable member provided with an impeller. The photovoltaic cells capture and convert the solar energy into electrical energy. The electric motor is connected to and is in electric communication with the photovoltaic cells for powering the electric motor. The electric motor converts the electrical energy into mechanical energy for rotating the photovoltaic cells in a first direction about a central axis and for rotating the axial shaft connected to an impeller in a second direction about the central axis. The rotating axial shaft rotates the impeller at high revolutions per minute which generates a flow of air that is directed to the rotating photovoltaic cells on the first rotatable member. The photovoltaic cells are cooled by the air-flow and operate at a lower temperature.

Claims

1. An apparatus for enabling photovoltaic cells to operate at a lower temperature, comprising:

said photovoltaic cells provided on a rotatable member, wherein said photovoltaic cells capture solar energy and convert said solar energy into electrical energy;

an electric motor, said electric motor in electric communication with said photovoltaic cells for powering said electric motor; and

an axial shaft, said axial shaft powered by said electric motor, said axial shaft extending axially from said electric motor to an impeller, wherein said impeller is coaxially connected to said axial shaft;

whereby rotation of said axial shaft by said electric motor produces an upward air-flow by said rotating impeller past said rotating photovoltaic cells and allows said rotating photovoltaic cells to operate at said lower temperature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said axial shaft has a first end and a second end, said first end of said axial shaft connected within said electric motor and said second end of said axial shaft is connected to said impeller.

3. An apparatus for enabling photovoltaic cells to operate at a lower temperature, comprising:

said photovoltaic cells provided on a first rotatable member, wherein said photovoltaic cells capture solar energy and convert said solar energy into electrical energy, wherein said electrical energy is transferred to an electric motor having an axial shaft;

said electric motor connected to and in electric communication with said photovoltaic cells and coaxially disposed in an annular space defined by said first rotatable member, wherein said electric motor is rigidly connected to said photovoltaic cells, and wherein said electric motor converts said electrical energy produced by said photovoltaic cells into mechanical energy for rotating said rigidly connected photovoltaic cells and said first rotatable member about a central axis and rotating said axial shaft connected to an impeller about said central axis; and

said second rotatable member provided with said impeller, wherein said rotating axial shaft rotates said impeller at high revolutions per minute which generates a flow of air, wherein said air-flow is directed to said rotating photovoltaic cells on said first rotatable member;

whereby said photovoltaic cells on said first rotatable member are cooled by said air-flow and operate at said lower temperature.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first rotatable member comprises a generally circular upper section and a curved side wall, wherein said generally circular upper section is defined between an inner periphery and an outer periphery, and wherein said curved side wall of said first rotatable member is connected to said outer periphery of said generally circular upper section to define said annular space within said first rotatable member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a generally circular axial opening defined by said inner periphery of said generally circular upper section for housing said photovoltaic cells.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said photovoltaic cells are positioned within said generally circular axial opening and on said generally circular upper section of said first rotatable member.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said axial shaft has a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said axial shaft is rotatably connected within said electric motor, and wherein said second end of said axial shaft is connected to said impeller.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said impeller comprises a central hub, an axial groove axially positioned in said central hub, and a plurality of blades positioned on a periphery of said central hub, wherein said axial groove receives said second end of said axial shaft, said central hub accommodates said electric motor, and said blades direct said air in an upward direction for facilitating propulsion of said apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said second rotatable member comprises a generally circular bottom section and a curved side wall, wherein said generally circular bottom section is defined between an inner periphery and an outer periphery, and wherein said curved side wall of said second rotatable member is connected to said outer periphery of said generally circular bottom section to define an annular space within said second rotatable member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a generally circular axial opening defined by said inner periphery of said generally circular bottom section for housing said impeller.

11. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said electric motor rotates said photovoltaic cells on said first rotatable member in a first direction about a central axis and rotates said axial shaft connected to said impeller provided on said second rotatable member in a second direction counter to said first direction about said central axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said impeller rotates said second rotatable member about said central axis and generates a lifting force that propels said apparatus in an upward direction on generation of said air-flow.

13. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of vents configured on said second rotatable member, wherein said vents allow said air to pass through said second rotatable member.

14. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of vents configured on said first rotatable member, wherein said vents allow said air to pass through said first rotatable member for cooling said photovoltaic cells on said first rotatable member.

15. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising one or more concentrator lenses mounted on said photovoltaic cells for concentrating and directing said solar energy into said photovoltaic cells.

16. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said photovoltaic cells are provided on a generally circular panel positioned on said first rotatable member.

17. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said photovoltaic cells are provided on a ring shaped panel and on a plurality of rectangular panels, each of said rectangular panels having a first end and second end, wherein said first end of each of said rectangular panels is electrically connected to an upper surface of said electric motor, and wherein said second end of each of said rectangular panels is connected to said ring shaped panel.

18. An apparatus for enabling photovoltaic cells to operate at a lower temperature, comprising:

a first rotatable member comprising;

a generally circular upper section defined between an inner periphery and an outer periphery;

a curved side wall connected to said outer periphery of said generally circular upper section to define an annular space within said first rotatable member; and

a generally circular axial opening defined by said inner periphery of said generally circular upper section for housing said photovoltaic cells;

said photovoltaic cells positioned within said generally circular axial opening and on said generally circular upper section of said first rotatable member, wherein said photovoltaic cells capture solar energy and convert said solar energy into electrical energy, wherein said electrical energy is transferred to an electric motor having an axial shaft;

said electric motor connected to and in electric communication with said photovoltaic cells, said electric motor coaxially disposed in said annular space defined by said first rotatable member, wherein said electric motor converts said electrical energy produced by said photovoltaic cells into mechanical energy for rotating said photovoltaic cells about a central axis and rotating said axial shaft connected to an impeller about said central axis;

said axial shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end of said axial shaft connected within said electric motor and said second end of said axial shaft connected to said impeller, wherein said rotating axial shaft rotates said impeller;

said second rotatable member comprising;

a generally circular bottom section defined between an inner periphery and an outer periphery;

a curved side wall connected to said outer periphery of said generally circular bottom section to define an annular space within said second rotatable member; and

a generally circular axial opening defined by said inner periphery of said generally circular bottom section; and

said impeller housed in said generally circular axial opening of said second rotatable member within said annular space of said second rotatable member, wherein said impeller rotates said second rotatable member about said central axis at said high revolutions per minute to generate flow of air at an increased velocity and directs said air-flow to said rotating photovoltaic cells on said first rotatable member, and wherein said generation of said air-flow at said increased velocity by said impeller generates a lifting force that propels said apparatus in an upward direction;

whereby said photovoltaic cells on said first rotatable member are cooled by said air-flow and operate at said lower temperature.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of vents configured on said second rotatable member, wherein said vents allow said air to pass through said second rotatable member.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of vents configured on said first rotatable member, wherein said vents allow said air to pass through said first rotatable member for cooling said photovoltaic cells on said first rotatable member.

21. A method of operating photovoltaic cells at a lower temperature, comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising;

said photovoltaic cells provided on a first rotatable member;

an electric motor connected to and in electric communication with said photovoltaic cells;

an axial shaft, said axial shaft powered by said electric motor, said axial shaft extending axially from said electric motor to an impeller, wherein said impeller is coaxially connected to said axial shaft; and

said impeller provided on a second rotatable member;

capturing solar energy by said photovoltaic cells and converting said captured solar energy into electrical energy, wherein said electrical energy is transferred to said electric motor;

converting said electrical energy into mechanical energy by said electric motor for rotating said photovoltaic cells housed on said first rotatable member in a first direction about a central axis and rotating said axial shaft connected to said impeller housed on said second rotatable member in a second direction counter to said first direction about said central axis; and

rotating said impeller by said rotating axial shaft which generates a flow of air, wherein said air-flow is directed to said rotating photovoltaic cells on said first rotatable member;

whereby said photovoltaic cells on said first rotatable member are cooled by said air-flow and operate at said lower temperature.