Multi-functional photovoltaic skylight and/or methods of making the same

• US 9,859,840 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2015
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Den Boer, Willem, Veerasamy, Vijayen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUU, THANH X
• Application Number:
  US14/848,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20160065118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 18/14 Changing the surface of the glass ribbon, e.g. roughening by chemical methods C03C
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/31 having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0014 at least one surface having optical power
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/005 arranged along a single direction only, e.g. lenticular sheets G02B3/0043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0056 arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0062 Stacked lens arrays, i.e. refractive surfaces arranged in at least two planes, without structurally separate optical elements in-between
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0521 using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation
• 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: H02S 20/26 Building materials integrated with PV modules, e.g. façade elements H02S20/25 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49355 Solar energy device making

Abstract

Certain examples relate to improved solar photovoltaic systems, and/or methods of making the same. Certain improved building-integrated photovoltaic systems may include concentrated photovoltaic skylights having a cylindrical lens array. The skylight may include an insulated glass unit, which may improve the solar heat gain coefficient. The photovoltaic skylight and lens arrays may be used in combination with strip solar cells and lateral displacement tracking systems. Such techniques may advantageously help to reduce cost per watt related, in part, to the potentially reduced amount of semiconductor material to be used for such example embodiments. A photovoltaic skylight may permit diffuse daylight to pass through into an interior of a building so as to provide lighting inside the building, while the strip solar cells absorb the direct sunlight and convert it to electricity.

Claims

1. A window comprising:

first, second and third glass substrates arranged substantially in parallel and spaced apart from each other, the first substrate to be located furthest from an interior of a building on which the window is to be mounted, the third substrate to be located closest to the interior of the building, and the second substrate to be located between the first and third substrates, wherein the window contains only three glass substrates, which are said first, second and third glass substrates;

a first gap between the first and second substrates, and a second gap between the second and third substrates;

wherein both of the gaps are filled with an inert gas;

a plurality of elongate solar cells supported by the second substrate; and

the first substrate comprising a lens array comprising a plurality of lenses oriented along a common axis, each said lens being configured to concentrate light onto at least one of the elongate solar cells, the lens array being substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the second substrate,

wherein at least one pocket is provided proximate an edge of the second substrate to allow lateral movement of the second substrate, so that the second substrate, but not the first and third substrates, is configured for lateral movement in the window; and

the window adapted to be arranged to permit some diffuse light incident thereon to pass therethrough and to cause direct light to be focused onto the solar cells so that in a given mode (a) substantially only diffuse daylight not directly incident on the window from the sun will be transmitted through the skylight into a building interior, and (b) direct sunlight that is directly incident on the window at a normal angle from the sun will be substantially blocked from the building interior by the window as the direct sunlight is absorbed by the solar cells.

2. The window of claim 1, wherein the solar cells comprise c-Si.

3. The window of claim 1, wherein the solar cells have an aspect ratio of at least about 2:

1.

4. The window of claim 1, wherein the window is a skylight.

5. The window of claim 1, wherein the lenses of the first substrate are on an exterior surface of the first substrate adapted to face the sun, and wherein an interior surface of the first substrate is substantially flat and does not have any such lenses.

6. A window comprising:

first, second and third glass substrates arranged substantially in parallel and spaced apart from each other, the first substrate to be located furthest from an interior of a building on which the window is to be mounted, the third substrate to be located closest to the interior of the building, and the second substrate to be located between the first and third substrates, wherein the window contains only three glass substrates, which are said first, second and third glass substrates;

a first gap between the first and second substrates, and a second gap between the second and third substrates;

wherein both of the gaps are filled with an inert gas;

a plurality of elongate solar cells supported by the second substrate; and

the first substrate comprising a lens array comprising a plurality of lenses oriented along a common axis, each said lens being configured to concentrate light onto at least one of the elongate solar cells, the lens array being substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the second substrate; and

wherein the window is configured to be arranged to permit some diffuse light incident thereon to pass therethrough and to cause direct light to be focused onto the solar cells so that in a given mode (a) substantially only diffuse daylight not directly incident on the window from the sun will be transmitted through the skylight into a building interior, and (b) direct sunlight that is directly incident on the window at a normal angle from the sun will be substantially blocked from the building interior by the window as the direct sunlight is absorbed by the solar cells.