US20050067008A1 - Solar energy collection system - Google Patents

Solar energy collection system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20050067008A1
US20050067008A1 US10/458,151 US45815103A US2005067008A1 US 20050067008 A1 US20050067008 A1 US 20050067008A1 US 45815103 A US45815103 A US 45815103A US 2005067008 A1 US2005067008 A1 US 2005067008A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
lens
compartment
trap
solar
solar cell
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
US10/458,151
Other versions
US6881893B1 (en
Inventor
David Cobert
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US10/458,151 priority Critical patent/US6881893B1/en
Publication of US20050067008A1 publication Critical patent/US20050067008A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US6881893B1 publication Critical patent/US6881893B1/en
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/04—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices
    • H01L31/054—Optical elements directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
    • H01L31/0543—Optical elements directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/04—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices
    • H01L31/054—Optical elements directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
    • H01L31/0547—Optical elements directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
    • Y02E10/52—PV systems with concentrators

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a system for generating electrical energy from solar energy and more particularly to such a system which employs a solar cell onto which solar light is concentrated.
  • Devices for generating electric energy from solar energy are well known in the art and as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,505 issued May 2, 2000 may employ a compartment, a “cusp” or trap having mirrored sides which receives the solar energy and by means of a lens located within the compartment or trap concentrates the received solar energy onto a solar cell within the compartment.
  • Such prior art devices generally require the tracking of the sun both in longitude and latitude on a daily and seasonal basis to obtain the needed concentration of solar energy, increasing the complexity and cost while decreasing reliability. This is because if the sunlight is not concentrated before it enters the compartment by tracking the sun, as mentioned above, it does not have the intensity in the compartment that is needed for proper operation of the system.
  • the device of the invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art in obviating the need for tracking the sun to provide the solar energy needed to excite the solar cell sufficiently to provide the needed electrical power.
  • This end result is achieved by concentrating the sun's rays by means of a lens which is external of the compartment in which the solar cell is mounted.
  • the sun's rays can thereby be concentrated by the lens to a spot on the mirrored wall of the compartment and reflected from the compartment wall onto the cell.
  • the lens is fixed at a tilt in accordance with the latitude of the site.
  • the daily arc of the sun across the face of the lens produces a smooth three dimensional arcuate path of the spot. Though the spot size and shape will change in accordance with the angle of the sun relative to the lens, the concentration will still remain substantial.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating the operation of the system of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2A is diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the mirror surface of the compartment of the preferred embodiment
  • FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the preferred embodiment with changes in the position of the sun.
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 a schematic drawing illustrating the operation of the system of the invention is shown.
  • the rays of the sun strike lens 12 which is a standard magnifying lens and are focused onto a spot 13 which is within a compartment or trap.
  • the lens is fixed at a tilt angle which is in accordance with the latitude of the site.
  • the daily arc of the sun across the face of the lens produces a smooth arc path 14 in three dimensional space. At or near this arc path is either a secondary mirrored surface or an opening to guide the light into the solar trap.
  • FIGS. 2, 2A and 2 B a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated schematically.
  • the solar light rays are focused by lens 11 onto spot 13 located within light trap or compartment 17 .
  • the insides walls of the light trap are mirrored so that the rays are reflected onto solar cell 16 which generates electrical energy.
  • the focused spot moves along the arc path 14 of the sun during the day.
  • At or near the “arc” formed in space is either an opening or a secondary mirror surface to guide the light into the light trap 17 .
  • the shape of the secondary mirror or opening will tend to adjust the concentration and direction of the light energy to optimize its use so as to increase efficiency and enable the use of a less expensive solar cell.
  • the shape of the light trap 17 may be parabolic in cross section, spherical with a circular cross section or a modified hybrid shape such that the collection of light energy at the solar cell 16 is optimized.
  • FIG. 2A illustrates the reflection of light from the sides of the trap to the solar cell while FIG. 2B illustrates the arc path 14 for the sun during summer and winter.
  • Lens 11 is mounted on the very top of the assembly and concentrates the light energy from the sun through aperture 19 formed in circular plates 20 .
  • Aperture 19 has an optical coating thereover which permits the passage of light therethrough from above but partially reflects light coming back from the trap. This end result is achieved by means of an optical half wavelength optical coating beneath a dielectric plate which enhances reflection of light back into the trap and a quarter wavelength optical coating above the dielectric plate which tends to enhance the passage of light from the lens into the trap.
  • Plate 20 has a light reflective mirrored bottom surface. The concentration of the light energy need not be at a focal point when entering the aperture.
  • the lens may be a standard magnifying lens, a Fresnel type lens or other type of light concentrating lens and may be round (as shown) elliptical, rectangular or irregular in general shape when looking in the direction of the light path.
  • a covering plate may be employed to keep the lens surface clean.
  • a standoff 22 on which the lens is mounted holds the lens above plate 20 to allow some degree of light concentration before the light energy passes through aperture 19 .
  • Standoff 22 may be of metal or plastic and may have an inner reflective surface.
  • the light energy After the light energy has passed through aperture 19 , it enters light trap or compartment 17 which has an inner mirrored surface 18 .
  • the shape of the trap may be parabolic in cross section, spherical with a circular cross section, conical or a modified hybrid shape to optimize the collection of light energy by the solar cell.
  • Trap 17 may be fabricated of a reflective metal with a polished interior or of a plastic or dielectric material with a mirrored inner surface. Light energy that does not hit the solar cell 16 directly on first pass will be reflected back towards the apertured plate 20 and will be reflected back by the mirrored bottom surface of the plate towards the solar cell. Partial reflection is also provided in the downward direction by the quarter wave optical coating covering aperture 19 , as mentioned above.
  • the solar cell 16 is mounted on a clear plastic standoff 26 or in the alternative by a standoff made of glass, Plexiglas with liquid or gaseous cooling.
  • the electric leads 28 can be connected to an inverter, to a device utilizing direct current or to a storage battery or the like.

Abstract

Sunlight is localized at a solar cell by means of a lens in conjunction with a solar energy trap with very low losses. The lens is a standard magnifying lens which concentrates the sunlight to a spot which is a small percentage of the total area of the lens. The lens is fixed at a tilt angle which is in accordance with the latitude of the site of the solar collection. The daily arc of the sun across the face of the lens produces a smooth arc path of the spot in three dimensional spaces. At or near the smooth arc in space, a guide which may be a secondary mirror surface or an opening guides the light into a solar trap. The solar trap is a fully mirrored enclosed space which permits light to enter but not leave the trap. The light in the trap is guided to a solar cell within the trap with reflected and scattered light being absorbed by the solar cell.

Description

  • This application is based on Provisional Application No. 60/387,731 filed Jun. 11, 2002.
    • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • 1. Field of the Invention
  • This invention relates to a system for generating electrical energy from solar energy and more particularly to such a system which employs a solar cell onto which solar light is concentrated.
  • 2. Description of the Related Art
  • Devices for generating electric energy from solar energy are well known in the art and as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,505 issued May 2, 2000 may employ a compartment, a “cusp” or trap having mirrored sides which receives the solar energy and by means of a lens located within the compartment or trap concentrates the received solar energy onto a solar cell within the compartment. Such prior art devices generally require the tracking of the sun both in longitude and latitude on a daily and seasonal basis to obtain the needed concentration of solar energy, increasing the complexity and cost while decreasing reliability. This is because if the sunlight is not concentrated before it enters the compartment by tracking the sun, as mentioned above, it does not have the intensity in the compartment that is needed for proper operation of the system.
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • The device of the invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art in obviating the need for tracking the sun to provide the solar energy needed to excite the solar cell sufficiently to provide the needed electrical power. This end result is achieved by concentrating the sun's rays by means of a lens which is external of the compartment in which the solar cell is mounted. The sun's rays can thereby be concentrated by the lens to a spot on the mirrored wall of the compartment and reflected from the compartment wall onto the cell. The lens is fixed at a tilt in accordance with the latitude of the site. The daily arc of the sun across the face of the lens produces a smooth three dimensional arcuate path of the spot. Though the spot size and shape will change in accordance with the angle of the sun relative to the lens, the concentration will still remain substantial.
  • It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simpler less complex and less expensive system for concentrating solar energy onto a solar cell to generate electrical energy;
  • It is a further object of this invention to provide a solar energy collection system in which the solar energy is focused onto the solar cell by means of a lens which is external to the compartment in which the solar cell is mounted thereby obviating the need to constantly adjust the positioning of the system with changes in the relative position of the sun.
  • Other objects of the invention will become apparent from following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
    • DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating the operation of the system of the invention;
  • FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;
  • FIG. 2A is diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the mirror surface of the compartment of the preferred embodiment;
  • FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the preferred embodiment with changes in the position of the sun; and
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment.
    • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  • Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic drawing illustrating the operation of the system of the invention is shown. The rays of the sun strike lens 12, which is a standard magnifying lens and are focused onto a spot 13 which is within a compartment or trap. The lens is fixed at a tilt angle which is in accordance with the latitude of the site. The daily arc of the sun across the face of the lens produces a smooth arc path 14 in three dimensional space. At or near this arc path is either a secondary mirrored surface or an opening to guide the light into the solar trap.
  • Referring now to FIGS. 2, 2A and 2B, a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated schematically. The solar light rays are focused by lens 11 onto spot 13 located within light trap or compartment 17. The insides walls of the light trap are mirrored so that the rays are reflected onto solar cell 16 which generates electrical energy. As previously pointed out, the focused spot moves along the arc path 14 of the sun during the day. At or near the “arc” formed in space is either an opening or a secondary mirror surface to guide the light into the light trap 17. The shape of the secondary mirror or opening will tend to adjust the concentration and direction of the light energy to optimize its use so as to increase efficiency and enable the use of a less expensive solar cell. The shape of the light trap 17 may be parabolic in cross section, spherical with a circular cross section or a modified hybrid shape such that the collection of light energy at the solar cell 16 is optimized. FIG. 2A illustrates the reflection of light from the sides of the trap to the solar cell while FIG. 2B illustrates the arc path 14 for the sun during summer and winter.
  • Referring now to FIG. 3, a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Lens 11 is mounted on the very top of the assembly and concentrates the light energy from the sun through aperture 19 formed in circular plates 20. Aperture 19 has an optical coating thereover which permits the passage of light therethrough from above but partially reflects light coming back from the trap. This end result is achieved by means of an optical half wavelength optical coating beneath a dielectric plate which enhances reflection of light back into the trap and a quarter wavelength optical coating above the dielectric plate which tends to enhance the passage of light from the lens into the trap. Plate 20 has a light reflective mirrored bottom surface. The concentration of the light energy need not be at a focal point when entering the aperture. The lens may be a standard magnifying lens, a Fresnel type lens or other type of light concentrating lens and may be round (as shown) elliptical, rectangular or irregular in general shape when looking in the direction of the light path. A covering plate may be employed to keep the lens surface clean.
  • A standoff 22 on which the lens is mounted holds the lens above plate 20 to allow some degree of light concentration before the light energy passes through aperture 19. Standoff 22 may be of metal or plastic and may have an inner reflective surface.
  • After the light energy has passed through aperture 19, it enters light trap or compartment 17 which has an inner mirrored surface 18. As previously noted the shape of the trap may be parabolic in cross section, spherical with a circular cross section, conical or a modified hybrid shape to optimize the collection of light energy by the solar cell. Trap 17 may be fabricated of a reflective metal with a polished interior or of a plastic or dielectric material with a mirrored inner surface. Light energy that does not hit the solar cell 16 directly on first pass will be reflected back towards the apertured plate 20 and will be reflected back by the mirrored bottom surface of the plate towards the solar cell. Partial reflection is also provided in the downward direction by the quarter wave optical coating covering aperture 19, as mentioned above.
  • The solar cell 16 is mounted on a clear plastic standoff 26 or in the alternative by a standoff made of glass, Plexiglas with liquid or gaseous cooling. The electric leads 28 can be connected to an inverter, to a device utilizing direct current or to a storage battery or the like.
  • While the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited only by the terms of the following claims.

Claims (8)

1. A system for generating electrical energy from solar energy comprising
a compartment having an open top portion and inner walls which have high light reflectivity;
a solar cell mounted within said compartment;
a lens being mounted above the open top portion of said compartment;
solar energy being concentrated by said lens at a spot along the inner walls of said compartment and reflected from the inner walls of said compartment onto said solar cell, said solar cell thereby generating electrical energy.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said compartment inner walls are mirrored.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said lens is tilted at an angle which is in accordance with the latitude of the site at which the system is installed.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said compartment has a configuration selected from the class consisting of parabolic cross section, spherical with a circular cross section, and a conical shape.
5. The system of claim 1 and additionally including a standoff member for separating the lens from the compartment, the bottom end of the standoff member being opposite the open top portion of said compartment, the lens being mounted on the top end of said standoff member.
6. The system of claim 5 and further including a plate member having an aperture formed therein mounted between the bottom end of said standoff member and the open top portion of said compartment, the solar energy passing through said aperture.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the inner wall of said plate member is light reflective.
8. The system of claim 6 wherein the aperture of said plate member has an optical coating thereon which permits the passage of solar energy coming from said lens therethrough to said compartment and substantially prevents the escape of solar energy from said compartment.
US10/458,151 2002-06-11 2003-06-10 Solar energy collection system Expired - Fee Related US6881893B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/458,151 US6881893B1 (en) 2002-06-11 2003-06-10 Solar energy collection system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US38773102P 2002-06-11 2002-06-11
US10/458,151 US6881893B1 (en) 2002-06-11 2003-06-10 Solar energy collection system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20050067008A1 true US20050067008A1 (en) 2005-03-31
US6881893B1 US6881893B1 (en) 2005-04-19

Family

ID=34380794

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/458,151 Expired - Fee Related US6881893B1 (en) 2002-06-11 2003-06-10 Solar energy collection system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US6881893B1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060266408A1 (en) * 2005-05-26 2006-11-30 Horne Stephen J Concentrator solar photovoltaic array with compact tailored imaging power units

Families Citing this family (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7081584B2 (en) * 2003-09-05 2006-07-25 Mook William J Solar based electrical energy generation with spectral cooling
AU2003271383A1 (en) * 2003-12-23 2005-07-07 Hpm Industries Pty Ltd A Solar Powered Light Assembly to Produce Light of Varying Colours
US20060174867A1 (en) * 2004-12-28 2006-08-10 Applied Optical Materials Nonimaging solar collector/concentrator
US20060274439A1 (en) * 2005-02-10 2006-12-07 Gordon Jeffrey M Optical system using tailored imaging designs
US7622666B2 (en) * 2005-06-16 2009-11-24 Soliant Energy Inc. 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
US20070102037A1 (en) * 2005-10-04 2007-05-10 Irwin Philip C Self-powered systems and methods using auxiliary solar cells
JP2009524245A (en) * 2006-01-17 2009-06-25 ソリアント エナジー，インコーポレイティド Concentrating solar panel and related systems and methods
CN101375112A (en) * 2006-01-17 2009-02-25 索利安特能源公司 A hybrid primary optical component for optical concentrators
NL1031544C2 (en) * 2006-04-07 2007-10-09 Suncycle B V Device for converting solar energy.
US20070277870A1 (en) * 2006-05-31 2007-12-06 Mark Wechsler Solar hydrogen generation system
TW200814343A (en) * 2006-09-12 2008-03-16 Delta Electronics Inc Energy collecting system
US20080135096A1 (en) * 2006-09-30 2008-06-12 Johnson Richard L Optical concentrators having one or more line foci and related methods
US20080128586A1 (en) * 2006-10-13 2008-06-05 Johnson Richard L Sun sensor assembly and related method of using
WO2008112180A2 (en) * 2007-03-11 2008-09-18 Soliant Energy, Inc. Heat transfer and wiring considerations for a photo voltaic receiver for solar concentrator applications
US20090000612A1 (en) * 2007-05-04 2009-01-01 Hines Braden E Apparatuses and methods for shaping reflective surfaces of optical concentrators
US7797939B2 (en) * 2008-05-03 2010-09-21 Timmy Green Concentrating solar energy receiver
CN102089887B (en) * 2008-05-16 2014-12-31 昂科公司 Solar systems that include one or more shade-tolerant wiring schemes
WO2009151979A2 (en) * 2008-06-09 2009-12-17 4Power, Llc High-efficiency solar cell structures and methods
CN101635314B (en) * 2008-07-25 2015-06-24 晶元光电股份有限公司 Solar battery light condenser
US20100024805A1 (en) * 2008-07-29 2010-02-04 Genie Lens Technologies, Llc Solar panels for concentrating, capturing, and transmitting solar energy in conversion systems
US20110124146A1 (en) * 2009-05-29 2011-05-26 Pitera Arthur J Methods of forming high-efficiency multi-junction solar cell structures
US9159858B2 (en) * 2010-02-08 2015-10-13 Alan Shteyman Three-dimensional total internal reflection solar cell
US20110253883A1 (en) * 2010-04-14 2011-10-20 Chien-Feng Lin Light collector
US9893223B2 (en) 2010-11-16 2018-02-13 Suncore Photovoltaics, Inc. Solar electricity generation system
US8604330B1 (en) 2010-12-06 2013-12-10 4Power, Llc High-efficiency solar-cell arrays with integrated devices and methods for forming them
TW201319489A (en) * 2011-11-10 2013-05-16 Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd Solar collecting device and solar cell assembly

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4114592A (en) * 1976-08-16 1978-09-19 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Cylindrical radiant energy direction device with refractive medium
US4347834A (en) * 1980-11-28 1982-09-07 York Bernard H Variable entropy solar energy harvester
US5409550A (en) * 1991-01-22 1995-04-25 Safir; Yakov Solar cell module
US5772791A (en) * 1995-06-20 1998-06-30 Laing; Johannes Nikolaus Floating solar power plant with asymmetrical concentrators
US5971551A (en) * 1995-07-07 1999-10-26 Arch Development Corporation Nonimaging optical concentrators and illuminators
US6057505A (en) * 1997-11-21 2000-05-02 Ortabasi; Ugur Space concentrator for advanced solar cells
US6091020A (en) * 1995-06-06 2000-07-18 The Boeing Company Photovoltaic cells having a concentrating coverglass with broadened tracking angle
US6111190A (en) * 1998-03-18 2000-08-29 Entech, Inc. Inflatable fresnel lens solar concentrator for space power
US6384320B1 (en) * 2000-10-13 2002-05-07 Leon Lung-Chen Chen Solar compound concentrator of electric power generation system for residential homes
US6653551B2 (en) * 2001-10-23 2003-11-25 Leon L. C. Chen Stationary photovoltaic array module design for solar electric power generation systems

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4114592A (en) * 1976-08-16 1978-09-19 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Cylindrical radiant energy direction device with refractive medium
US4347834A (en) * 1980-11-28 1982-09-07 York Bernard H Variable entropy solar energy harvester
US5409550A (en) * 1991-01-22 1995-04-25 Safir; Yakov Solar cell module
US6091020A (en) * 1995-06-06 2000-07-18 The Boeing Company Photovoltaic cells having a concentrating coverglass with broadened tracking angle
US5772791A (en) * 1995-06-20 1998-06-30 Laing; Johannes Nikolaus Floating solar power plant with asymmetrical concentrators
US5971551A (en) * 1995-07-07 1999-10-26 Arch Development Corporation Nonimaging optical concentrators and illuminators
US6057505A (en) * 1997-11-21 2000-05-02 Ortabasi; Ugur Space concentrator for advanced solar cells
US6252155B1 (en) * 1997-11-21 2001-06-26 Ugur Ortabasi Space concentrator for advanced solar cells
US6111190A (en) * 1998-03-18 2000-08-29 Entech, Inc. Inflatable fresnel lens solar concentrator for space power
US6384320B1 (en) * 2000-10-13 2002-05-07 Leon Lung-Chen Chen Solar compound concentrator of electric power generation system for residential homes
US6653551B2 (en) * 2001-10-23 2003-11-25 Leon L. C. Chen Stationary photovoltaic array module design for solar electric power generation systems
US6717045B2 (en) * 2001-10-23 2004-04-06 Leon L. C. Chen Photovoltaic array module design for solar electric power generation systems

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060266408A1 (en) * 2005-05-26 2006-11-30 Horne Stephen J Concentrator solar photovoltaic array with compact tailored imaging power units
WO2006130520A2 (en) * 2005-05-26 2006-12-07 Solfocus, Inc. Concentrator solar photovoltaic array with compact tailored imaging power units
US20070089778A1 (en) * 2005-05-26 2007-04-26 Horne Stephen J Concentrator solar photovol taic array with compact tailored imaging power units
WO2006130520A3 (en) * 2005-05-26 2009-04-16 Solfocus Inc Concentrator solar photovoltaic array with compact tailored imaging power units
US8063300B2 (en) 2005-05-26 2011-11-22 Solfocus, Inc. Concentrator solar photovoltaic array with compact tailored imaging power units

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US6881893B1 (en) 2005-04-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6881893B1 (en) Solar energy collection system
US7688525B2 (en) Hybrid primary optical component for optical concentrators
US5540216A (en) Apparatus and method for concentrating radiant energy emanated by a moving energy source
US6087579A (en) Method and apparatus for directing solar energy to solar energy collecting cells
US20080251113A1 (en) Single mirror solar concentrator with efficient electrical and thermal management
US20060207650A1 (en) Multi-junction solar cells with an aplanatic imaging system and coupled non-imaging light concentrator
US20080128016A1 (en) Parallel Aperture Prismatic Light Concentrator
US20100024868A1 (en) Solar radiation collector
WO2002075225A3 (en) Nonimaging solar concentrator with uniform irradiance
JPH10221528A (en) Solar battery device
JPH0661519A (en) Photoelectric cell module provided with reflector
WO2009063416A2 (en) Thin and efficient collecting optics for solar system
CN101641860A (en) Concentrating photovoltaic system using a fresnel lens and nonimaging secondary optics
JP6002237B2 (en) Photovoltaic concentrator
JP2003536244A (en) Focused solar energy collector
Luque Theoretical bases of photovoltaic concentrators for extended light sources
KR20200029851A (en) Flat Concentrating Photovoltaic Apparatus for Vehicle
WO2006065246A1 (en) Solar energy collection system
CN112187166B (en) High-efficiency concentrating solar cell panel
US5427628A (en) Solar rhyno
KR100822926B1 (en) Collector-emitter device with a polished perimetrical concave reflecting surface oriented in a oblique direction
CN112097405A (en) Static large-angle solar energy collecting system
US4397302A (en) Non-focusing solar energy concentrator
JP3594805B2 (en) Solar cell module
JPS61150282A (en) Solar power generator

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

SULP Surcharge for late payment
REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20130419