Title: Infrared transmissive concentrated photovoltaics for coupling solar electric energy conversion to solar thermal energy utilization

Abstract

The use of photovoltaic (PV) cells to convert solar energy to electricity is becoming increasingly prevalent; however, there are still significant limitations associated with the widespread adoption of PV cells for electricity needs. There is a clear need for a high efficiency solar power system that supplies electricity at a competitive cost and that provides for an on-demand supply of electricity as well as energy storage. By combining aspects of concentrated solar power and concentrated photovoltaics, the present invention provides a device that enables the conversion of sunlight to electricity at very high efficiencies and that enables the transmission of thermal energy to heat storage devices for later use. The disclosed device enables transmissive CPV through the use of a multijunction PV cell mounted on a transparent base. The use of a multijunction cell allows for highly efficient absorption of light above the bandgap of the lowest bandgap subcell. The transparent base permits transmission of a high percentage of the remaining light below the bandgap of the lowest bandgap subcell. The present invention also discloses a method of generating electricity through the use of a transmissive CPV device. Sunlight is concentrated onto one or more surfaces of the device. Highmore » energy light is absorbed by a multijunction PV cell and converted directly to electricity, while low energy light is transmitted through the device into a thermal storage device, which may then be coupled to a heat engine to generate dispatchable electricity. « less

Inventors:

Escarra, Matthew David; Lewson, Benjamin; Ji, Yaping; Xu, Qi; Ollanik, Adam

Issue Date:

Tue Sep 14 00:00:00 EDT 2021

Research Org.:

Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1840449

Patent Number(s):

11121278

Application Number:

15/322,417

Assignee:

The Administrators of the tulane Educational Fund (New Orleans, LA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02S - GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRA-RED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES

Show more

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

H01L31/0201 - {comprising specially adapted module bus-bar structures}
H01L31/02168 - {the coatings being antireflective or having enhancing optical properties for the solar cells}
H01L31/042 - PV modules or arrays of single PV cells
H01L31/048 - Encapsulation of modules
H01L31/0488 - {Double glass encapsulation, e.g. photovoltaic cells arranged between front and rear glass sheets}
H01L31/0521 - {using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation}
H01L31/0547 - {comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection}
H01L31/0687 - Multiple junction or tandem solar cells
H01L31/0693 - the devices including, apart from doping material or other impurities, only AIIIBV compounds, e.g. GaAs or InP solar cells

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02S - GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRA-RED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES

H02S40/44 - Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES 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

Y02E10/52 - PV systems with concentrators
Y02E10/544 - Solar cells from Group III-V materials
Y02E10/60 - Thermal-PV hybrids

Show less

DOE Contract Number:  

AR0000473

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 06/29/2015

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English