Solar cell having photovoltaic cells inclined at acute angle to each other

• US 7,208,674 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eric Aylaian
• Original Assignee: Eric Aylaian
• Inventors: Aylaian, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Noguerola; Alex
• Application Number:
  US10/241,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20030047207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 136/246, 136/249, 136/251, 136/261, 136/262, 136/252, 136/244, 136/259, 257/433, 257/434, 257/437, 257/443
• US Class Current: 136/251
• 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 support structure having a cavity and an opening for permitting light to enter the cavity, first and second photovoltaic cells carried by the support structure and disposed within the cavity, the second photovoltaic cell being adjacent the first photovoltaic cell, the first photovoltaic cell being disposed within the cavity to receive light entering the cavity and inclined at an acute angle to the second photovoltaic cell for reflecting received light onto the second photovoltaic cell.

2. The solar collector of claim 1 further comprising a third photovoltaic cell carried by the support structure and disposed within the cavity, the third photovoltaic cell being adjacent the first photovoltaic cell and opposing the second photovoltaic cell for receiving light reflected from the second photovoltaic cell.

3. The solar collector of claim 2 wherein the third photovoltaic cell is inclined at an obtuse angle relative to the first photovoltaic cell.

4. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein the first photovoltaic cell is disposed in the cavity opposite the opening.

5. The solar collector of claim 4 wherein the second photovoltaic cell is disposed in the cavity between the opening and first photovoltaic cell.

6. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein the first and second photovoltaic cells are each single monolithic photovoltaic cells.

7. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein the first and second photovoltaic cells are at least two different types of photovoltaic cells selected from the group consisting of silicon based photovoltaic cells, gallium-arsenide based photovoltaic cells, aluminum-gallium-arsenide based photovoltaic cells, germanium based photovoltaic cells and gallium indium-phosphide based photovoltaic cells.

8. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second photovoltaic cells is a multiple-junction photovoltaic cell.

9. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second photovoltaic cells is a triple-junction photovoltaic cell.

10. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein the support structure is an enclosure having the cavity and the opening for permitting light to enter the cavity.

11. The solar collector of claim 1 further comprising a concentrator disposed in the opening for concentrating the light onto the first photovoltaic cell.

12. The solar collector of claim 1 wherein the support structure is free of light-blocking elements between the opening and the first photovoltaic cell.

13. A solar collector comprising a support structure having a cavity and an opening for permitting light to enter the cavity, first and second photovoltaic cells carried by the support structure and disposed within the cavity, the support structure being free of light-blocking elements between the opening and the first photovoltaic cell, the first photovoltaic cell being disposed within the cavity to receive light entering the cavity and inclined at an acute angle to the second photovoltaic cell for reflecting received light onto the second photovoltaic cell.

14. The solar collector of claim 13 further comprising a third photovoltaic cell carried by the support structure and disposed within the cavity, the third photovoltaic cell being adjacent the first photovoltaic cell and opposing the second photovoltaic cell for receiving light reflected from the second photovoltaic cell.

15. The solar collector of claim 14 wherein the third photovoltaic cell is inclined at an obtuse angle relative to the first photovoltaic cell.

16. The solar collector of claim 13 wherein the first and second photovoltaic cells are each single monolithic photovoltaic cells.

17. The solar collector of claim 13 wherein the first and second photovoltaic cells are at least two different types of photovoltaic cells selected from the group consisting of silicon based photovoltaic cells, gallium-arsenide based photovoltaic cells, aluminum-gallium-arsenide based photovoltaic cells, germanium based photovoltaic cells and gallium indium-phosphide based photovoltaic cells.

18. The solar collector of claim 13 wherein at least one of the first and second photovoltaic cells is a multiple-junction photovoltaic cell.

19. The solar collector of claim 13 wherein at least one of the first and second photovoltaic cells is a triple-junction photovoltaic cell.

20. The solar collector of claim 13 wherein the support structure is an enclosure having the cavity and the opening for permitting light to enter the cavity.