Solar energy hybrid module

• US 20110226308A1
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yi Pang
• Original Assignee: Yi Pang
• Inventors: Pang, Yi
• Application Number:
  US12/773,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20110226308A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/45 the enclosure being cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/20 Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/74 with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 80/54 using evacuated elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/32 specially adapted for solar tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/44 Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H01L31/0525
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/60 Thermal-PV hybrids

Abstract

A solar energy module assembles into an array producing electricity and heat upon exposure to light. The module includes a transparent tube; a reflector; solar cells; a pipe that is specially configured with planar walls; and an optional sun-tracking device. The reflector concentrates light to focal lines within the top part of the transparent tube. The pipe has a polygon cross-sectional shape with an odd number of flat walls, preferably three or five flat walls. A flat wall faces the top of the tube and is configured to extend across a portion of a cross-sectional shape occupied by a plurality of bottom-facing planar walls. At least two bottom-facing planar walls are each located in a focal line. A fluid in the pipe may serve as a coolant. The solar cells, preferably monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, are mounted on the top flat wall and each bottom-facing planar wall to produce electricity.

Claims

1. A module for extracting electricity and heat upon exposure to light, the module comprising:

a transparent tube comprising a top part and a bottom part;

a reflector configured to concentrate light to a plurality of focal lines within the top part of the transparent tube after the light enters into the transparent tube through the top part;

a pipe configured;

to define a cross-sectional shape formed by an odd number of planar walls, the planar walls comprising;

a top-facing planar wall configured to extend across a portion of a cross-sectional shape occupied by a plurality of bottom-facing planar walls;

at least two bottom-facing planar walls, each such bottom-facing planar wall located in one of the plurality of focal lines; and

,

a plurality of photovoltaic cells attached to the pipe in a configuration;

that enables heat to be conducted away from the photovoltaic cells by the pipe;

along the top-facing planar wall; and

,

along each bottom-facing planar wall.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a reflective coating on a surface of the bottom part of the transparent tube.

3. The module of claim 1, wherein the transparent tube is configured to hold a vacuum to minimize heat loss by convection from the pipe to the wall of the transparent tube.

4. The module of claim 1, further comprising a thermal insulating gas within the transparent tube comprising properties that reduce heat transfer from the pipe to the wall of the transparent tube.

5. The module of claim 1, wherein the pipe comprises a coolant, the coolant consisting of a low evaporating point fluid that absorbs heat by phase transition.

6. The module of claim 1, wherein the pipe comprises five planar walls.

7. The module of claim 1, wherein the pipe comprises three planar walls.

8. The module of claim 1, wherein the transparent tube is a right circular cylindrical body.

9. The module of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of parabolic and compound parabolic.

10. The module of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic cells are configured from monocrystalline silicon.