Photovoltaic concentrator modules and systems having a heat dissipating element located within a volume in which light rays converge from an optical concentrating element towards a photovoltaic receiver

• US 7,622,666 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Suncore Photovoltaics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Soliant Energy, Inc. (Emcore Corporation)
• Inventors: Hines, Braden E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Nam X
• Assistant Examiner(s): BALL, JOHN C
• Application Number:
  US11/454,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20060283497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 136/246, 136/259
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2020/16 Preventing shading effects
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2023/872 Assemblies of spaced reflective elements on common support, e.g. Fresnel reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2030/131 in the form of articulated bars
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2030/136 for moving several solar collectors by common transmission elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/70 with reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/455 Horizontal primary axis
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/052 Cooling means directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. integrated Peltier elements for active cooling or heat sinks directly associated with the PV cells cooling means in combination with the PV module H02S40/42
• 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 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

The present invention relates to photovoltaic power systems, photovoltaic concentrator modules, and related methods.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic power system, comprising:

a) a support structure having at least one interface that is structured to mate with existing solar panel mounting hardware; and

b) a plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules coupled to the support structure such that a module is moveable and articulates in place relative to the support structure, each module comprising;

i. at least one photovoltaic receiver; and

ii. at least one optical concentrating element which optically concentrates incident light onto at least one corresponding photovoltaic receiver thereby defining a volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver, and wherein a photovoltaic concentrator module further comprises a heat-dissipating element that is located at least partially within the volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver.

2. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, further comprising a source of self-power operatively coupled to the photovoltaic power system.

3. The photovoltaic power system of claim 2, wherein the source of self-power comprises at least one solar cell.

4. The photovoltaic power system of claim 2, wherein the source of self-power comprises a panel of solar cells.

5. The photovoltaic power system of claim 4, wherein the panel of solar cells is supported upon the support structure.

6. The photovoltaic power system of claim 2, wherein the source of self-power comprises at least one of the plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules.

7. The photovoltaic power system of claim 6, wherein at least one module generates a power output at least at some times that the module is not tracking the sun.

8. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein the support structure is planar.

9. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein the support structure is rigid and planar.

10. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical concentrating element comprises an optical concentrating element selected from the group consisting of a reflector, a lens, a solar trap, and a reflective ring concentrator.

11. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein the heat-dissipating element comprises a heat-dissipating fin that is parallel to the optical axis of the optical concentrating element.

12. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein the heat-dissipating element comprises a plurality of fins oriented radially around the receiver.

13. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein substantially all of the heat-dissipating element is located within the volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver.

14. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic concentrator modules are spaced apart.

15. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the photovoltaic modules are ganged to move together in fixed relation to one another in at least one axis.

16. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of modules is moveable and articulates in place relative to the support structure.

17. The photovoltaic power system of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of modules move in synchrony.

18. The photovoltaic power system of claim 16, wherein the support structure is fixed relative to the plurality of articulating photovoltaic concentrator modules.

19. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein the at least one photovoltaic concentrator module individually articulates in place relative to the support structure.

20. A photovoltaic power system, comprising:

a) a support structure;

b) a plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules supported by the support structure in a manner such that a module is independently moveable with respect to the support structure, each module comprising;

i. at least one photovoltaic receiver;

ii. at least one optical concentrating element that concentrates incident light onto at least one corresponding photovoltaic receiver thereby defining a volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver; and

c) a heat-dissipating element comprising at least one fin that is parallel to the optical axis of a module, wherein the heat dissipating element is located at least partially within the volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver.

21. A photovoltaic concentrator module, comprising:

a) at least one photovoltaic receiver that converts incident sunlight into electrical energy;

b) at least one optical concentrating element that concentrates incident light onto the photovoltaic receiver thereby defining a volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver; and

c) a heat-dissipating element that is located at least partially within the volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver.

22. The photovoltaic concentrator of claim 21, wherein the optical concentrating element is selected from the group consisting of a reflector, a lens, a solar trap, and a reflective ring concentrator.

23. The photovoltaic concentrator of claim 21, wherein the heat-dissipating element comprises a fin that is parallel to the optical axis of at least one optical concentrating element.

24. The photovoltaic concentrator of claim 21, wherein substantially all of the heat-dissipating element is located in the volume.

25. The photovoltaic concentrator of claim 21, wherein the heat-dissipating element comprises a plurality of fins oriented radially around the receiver.

26. A photovoltaic concentrator module assembly, comprising:

a) a frame;

b) an array of photovoltaic concentrator modules mounted to the frame in a manner such that at least one module is moveable and articulates in place relative to the frame, wherein each module comprises;

i) at least one photovoltaic receiver that converts incident sunlight into electrical energy; and

ii) at least one optical concentrating element that concentrates incident light to the photovoltaic receiver; and

wherein at least one module further comprises a heat-dissipating element that is located at least partially within a volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver; and

c) a tracker system operatively coupled to the assembly, wherein the tracker system moves at least one of the modules based on a direction of incoming sunlight; and

d) a source of power operatively coupled to the tracker system.