Solar cell having a three-dimensional array of photovoltaic cells enclosed within an enclosure having reflective surfaces

• US 20030047207A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eric Aylaian
• Original Assignee: Eric Aylaian
• Inventors: Aylaian, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,208,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/041 Provisions for preventing damage caused by corpuscular radiation, e.g. for space applications
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/043 Mechanically stacked PV cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• 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 40/42 Cooling means cooling means directly associated or integrated with the PV cell H01L31/052
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/425 using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

A solar collector (100) is provided having increased efficiency and operating life, and reduced size and cost over conventional collectors. Generally, the collector (100) includes a three-dimensional array (110) of cells (104), including a base-layer (112) and at least one elevated-tier (114) above and separated from the base-layer, so that at least some light passes between cells of the tier to the base-layer. Preferably, the tier (114) includes cells (104) oriented to receive light reflected from the base-layer (112). More preferably, the array (100) is within an enclosure (108) having a bottom-wall (120) and sidewalls (122, 124) that reflect a portion of light incident thereon onto the cells (104). In one embodiment, the cells (104) include types of monolithic cells sensitive to different wavelengths of light, and the collector (100) further includes voltage converters (144) to match voltages from the different types of cells to a common output voltage. Optionally, cells (104) susceptible to damage by ultraviolet radiation are oriented to receive only reflected light.

Claims

1. A solar collector comprising a three-dimensional array of a plurality of substrates, each substrate having a photovoltaic cell (PVC) formed on a surface thereof for converting light incident thereon into electrical energy, the three-dimensional array including a base-layer of substrates, and a first elevated-tier of substrates positioned above and separated from the base-layer of substrates;

and

wherein the surfaces of the base-layer of substrates are oriented at an angle relative to the light incident thereon to reflect light received thereon to the substrates of the first elevated-tier of substrates.

2. A solar collector according to claim 1, wherein the surface of at least one of the substrates of the first elevated-tier of substrates is oriented substantially parallel to a direction of light incident on the substrates of the base-layer.

3. A solar collector according to claim 1, wherein the surface of a first substrate of the first elevated-tier of substrates is oriented at an acute angle relative to the surfaces of the base-layer of substrates to receive light reflected from the substrates of the base-layer.

4. A solar collector according to claim 3, wherein the surface of the first substrate is further oriented to reflect light reflected from the substrates of the base-layer onto the surface of a second substrate of the first elevated-tier of substrates.

5. A solar collector according to claim 3, wherein the surface of the first substrate is further oriented to reflect light received from the substrates of the base-layer onto the surface of a substrate in a second elevated-tier of substrates positioned above and separated from the first elevated-tier of substrates.

6. A solar collector according to claim 3, wherein each substrate comprises a single monolithic PVC formed on the surface thereof.

7. A solar collector according to claim 6, wherein the PVCs formed on the plurality of substrates comprise at least two different types of PVCs selected from the group consisting of:

Silicon based PVCs;

Gallium-Arsenide (GaAs) based PVCs;

Aluminum-Gallium-Arsenide (AlGaAs) based PVCs;

Germanium (Ge) based PVCs; and

Gallium Indium-Phosphide (GaInP) based PVCs.

8. A solar collector according to claim 6, wherein the PVCs formed on the plurality of substrates include at least one PVC comprising a multiple-junction PVC.

9. A solar collector according to claim 8, wherein the PVCs formed on the plurality of substrates include at least one PVC comprising a triple-junction cell structure.

10. A solar collector according to claim 1, further comprising an enclosure enclosing the plurality of substrates, the enclosure having a top-wall with a concentrator through which light is passed to the base-layer of substrates,

whereby light incident on the top-wall of the enclosure is concentrated onto the substrates of the base-layer to enhance the efficiency with which light is converted into electrical energy.

11. A solar collector comprising:

a two-dimensional array of a plurality of substrates, each substrate having a monolithic photovoltaic cell (PVC) formed on a surface thereof for converting light incident thereon into electrical energy, the plurality of substrates including at least two different types of PVCs receptive to different wavelengths of light and having different band gap energies; and

an enclosure enclosing the two dimensional array of the plurality of substrates, the enclosure including a top-wall with a concentrator through which light is passed to the base-layer of substrates,

whereby light incident on the top-wall of the enclosure is concentrated onto the substrates of the base-layer to enhance the efficiency with which light is converted into electrical energy.

12. A solar collector according to claim 11, wherein the PVCs formed on the plurality of substrates comprise at least two different types of PVCs selected from the group consisting of:

Silicon based PVCs;

Gallium-Arsenide (GaAs) based PVCs;

Aluminum-Gallium-Arsenide (AlGaAs) based PVCS;

Germanium (Ge) based PVCs; and

Gallium Indium-Phosphide (GaInP) based PVCs.

13. A solar collector comprising:

a three-dimensional array of a plurality of substrates, each substrate having a photovoltaic cell (PVC) formed on a surface thereof for converting light incident thereon into electrical energy, the three-dimensional array including a base-layer of substrates, and a first elevated-tier of substrates positioned above and separated from the base-layer of substrates; and

an enclosure enclosing the plurality of substrates, the enclosure including a top-wall with a concentrator through which light is passed to the base-layer of substrates,

whereby light incident on the top-wall of the enclosure is concentrated onto the substrates of the base-layer to enhance the efficiency with which light is converted into electrical energy.

14. A solar collector according to claim 13, wherein the surfaces of the base-layer of substrates are oriented at an angle relative to the light incident thereon to reflect light received thereon to the substrates of the first elevated-tier of substrates.

15. A solar collector according to claim 13, wherein the surface of at least one of the substrates of the first elevated-tier of substrates is oriented substantially parallel to a direction of light incident on the substrates of the base-layer.

16. A solar collector according to claim 13, wherein the surface of a first substrate of the first elevated-tier of substrates is oriented at an acute angle relative to the surfaces of the base-layer of substrates to receive light reflected from the substrates of the base-layer.

17. A solar collector according to claim 16, wherein the surface of the first substrate is further oriented to reflect light reflected from the substrates of the base-layer onto the surface of a second substrate of the first elevated-tier of substrates.

18. A solar collector according to claim 16, wherein the surface of the first substrate is further oriented to reflect light received from the substrates of the base-layer onto the surface of a substrate in a second elevated-tier of substrates positioned above and separated from the first elevated-tier of substrates.

19. A solar collector according to claim 16, wherein each substrate comprises a single monolithic PVC formed on the surface thereof, and wherein the PVCs formed on the plurality of substrates comprise at least two different types of PVCs selected from the group consisting of:

Silicon based PVCs;

Gallium-Arsenide (GaAs) based PVCs;

Aluminum-Gallium-Arsenide (AlGaAs) based PVCs;

Germanium (Ge) based PVCs; and

Gallium Indium-Phosphide (GaInP) based PVCs.

20. A solar collector according to claim 19, wherein the PVCs formed on the plurality of substrates include at least one PVC comprising a multiple-junction PVC.