Photovoltaic cell system and an optical structure therefor

• US 6,020,553 A
• Filed: 04/04/1997
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd. (Weizmann Institute of Science)
• Original Assignee: Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd. (Weizmann Institute of Science)
• Inventors: Yogev, Amnon
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAMOND, ALAN D
• Application Number:
  US08/809,712
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 136/246, 136/259, 126/573, 126/600, 126/683, 126/684, 126/685, 126/698, 250/200, 250/203.4, 359/831, 359/837
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/00 Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/20 for tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0543 comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses
• 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: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

High radiation concentration photovoltaic cell system including at least one optical structure in the form of a three-dimensional body having a first surface adapted to receive thereon photovoltaic cells and a second surface to be, at least indirectly, exposed to light radiation. The body of the optical structure has formed between its first and second surfaces a two-dimensional array of contiguous light radiation concentrators each in the form of an individual prismatic body portion. Each prismatic body portion tapers in two dimensions toward said first surface along the entire length of the concentrator. Each concentrator defines on the first surface a photovoltaic cell-attaching area to be aligned with an active portion of a single photovoltaic cell to be attached thereto. The system may further include at least one separate distantly located solar radiation collecting and/or reflecting sun-tracking device arranged to direct solar radiation to be impinged in two dimensions on the second surface of the entire array of the radiation concentrators.

Claims

1. A high radiation concentration photovoltaic cell system, comprising:

at least one optical structure comprising a three-dimensional body having a first surface capable of receiving thereon photovoltaic cells and a second surface to be at least indirectly exposed to light radiation, said body being made of a material at least partially transparent to light and having formed between said surfaces a two-dimensional array of contiguous light radiation concentrators each comprising an individual prismatic body portion tapering toward said first surface in two dimensions along the entire length thereof, each concentrator defining on said first surface a photovoltaic cell-attaching area to be aligned with an active portion of a single photovoltaic cell to be attached thereto, and

at least one separate distantly located sun-tracking device capable of at least one of reflecting and collecting solar radiation, the sun-tracking device being structured to concentrate solar radiation in two dimensions to be impinged on said second surface of the entire array of said optical structure.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said material is one of glass, glass ceramic, quartz fused silica, and sapphire.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said prismatic body portions of said radiation concentrators are formed on a common body portion of said optical structure.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radiation concentrators are separated by grooves which are substantially V-shaped.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said concentrators are configured as a multi-lateral truncated pyramid.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body further comprises an anti-reflective coating on at least portions of its surfaces.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a selective light radiation transmission coating on at least portions of its surfaces.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sun-tracking device comprises at least one concave surface.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sun-tracking device comprises a plurality of mirrors.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a light guide coupled to said optical structure for producing homogenous distribution of light directed towards said second surface.

11. The system as claimed in claims 1, further comprising a light guide having a converting internal cross-section at least indirectly coupled to said optical structure for producing homogenous distribution of light directed towards said second surface.

12. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said prismatic body portions are formed in between traversing grooves extending from said first surface to said common portion and converging toward said common portion.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional array comprises a plurality of rows and columns of the concentrators.

14. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the light guide is between the at least one optical structure and the sun-tracking device.

15. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the light guide is between the at least one optical structure and the sun-tracking device.

16. A high radiation concentration photovoltaic cell system, comprising:

a solar radiation concentration optical device capable of concentrating solar radiation in two dimensions;

at least one optical structure having a body made of a material at least partially transparent to light and having a first surface capable of receiving thereon photovoltaic cells, and an opposite second surface to be, at least indirectly, exposed to light from said solar radiation concentration device;

the body of said optical structure having a two-dimensional array of contiguous light radiation concentrators which are prismatic associated with said first surface and formed on a common body portion associated with said second surface;

each radiation concentrator having a length defined between said common body portion and said first surface, and tapering toward said first surface in two dimensions all along said length;

each radiation concentrator defining at said first surface a photovoltaic cell-attaching area structured to attach thereto a single photovoltaic cell.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein each said radiation concentrator is spaced from neighboring radiation concentrators along an entire length and circumference thereof.

18. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said radiation concentrators are formed between mutually perpendicular grooves extending between said first surface and said common body portion and converging toward said common body portion.

19. The system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising an optical element capable of providing homogeneous distribution of radiation concentrated by said radiation concentration optical device, to be impinged on said second surface.

20. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said material is one of glass, glass ceramic, quartz fused silica, and sapphire.

21. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of said radiation concentrators are configured as a multi-lateral truncated pyramid.

22. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said body further comprises anti-reflective coating on at least portions of its surfaces.

23. The system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a selective light radiation transmission coating on at least portions of its surfaces.

24. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said solar radiation concentration optical device comprises at least one concave surface.

25. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said solar radiation concentration optical device comprises a plurality of mirrors.

26. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the two-dimensional array comprises a plurality of rows and columns of the radiation concentrators.

27. A photovoltaic optical structure, comprising:

a body made of a material at least partially transparent to light and having a first surface capable of receiving thereon photovoltaic cells, and an opposite second surface to be, at least indirectly, exposed to solar radiation;

the body of said optical structure having a two-dimensional array of contiguous light radiation concentrators which are prismatic associated with said first surface and formed on a common body portion associated with said second surface;

each radiation concentrator having a length defined between said common body portion and said first surface, and tapering toward said first surface in two dimensions all along said length;

each radiation concentrator defining at said first surface a photovoltaic cell-attaching area structured to attach thereto a single photovoltaic cell.

28. The optical structure according to claim 27, wherein each said radiation concentrator is spaced from neighboring radiation concentrators along the entire length and circumference thereof.

29. The optical structure as claimed in claim 27, wherein said radiation concentrators are formed between mutually perpendicular grooves extending between said first surface and said common body portion and converging toward said common body portion.

30. The optical structure as claimed in claim 27, wherein said material is one of glass, glass ceramic, quartz fused silica, and sapphire.

31. The optical structure as claimed in claim 27, wherein each of said radiation concentrators are configured as a multi-lateral truncated pyramid.

32. The optical structure as claimed in claim 27, wherein said body further comprises anti-reflective coating on at least portions of its surfaces.

33. The optical structure as claimed in claim 27, further comprising a selective light radiation transmission coating on at least portions of its surfaces.

34. The optical structure as claimed in claim 27, further comprising a light guide coupled to said optical structure for producing homogenous distribution of light directed toward said second surface.

35. The optical structure as claimed in claim 34, further comprising a sun-tracking device, and wherein the light guide is between the optical structure and the sun-tracking device.

36. The optical structure as claimed in claim 27, further comprising a light guide having a converging internal cross-section at least indirectly coupled to said optical structure for producing homogenous distribution of light directed toward said second surface.

37. The optical structure as claimed in claim 36, further comprising a sun-tracking device, and wherein the light guide is between the optical structure and the sun-tracking device.

38. The optical structure as claimed in claim 27, wherein the two-dimensional array comprises a plurality of rows and columns of radiation concentrators.