Photovoltaic cell array with light concentrating reflectors
A solar battery array is described. It has a succession of first and second mutually spaced, elongate, electrical conductors, the first and second conductors alternating with each other and being generally parallel. Each of the conductors is substantially rigid and has a configuration adapted to reject substantial amounts of heat by radiation to space. A series of mutually spaced solar batteries is positioned between successive conductors such that each of the series is bracketed by a first and a second conductor. Each of the solar batteries includes a photovoltaic cell carried by an electrically insulated cell holder, and a reflector spaced from the cell, the reflector being shaped to concentrate incident light on a light receiving cell surface. Each of the cell holders bridges the bracketing pair of conductors and is fastened thereto to form a substantially rigid cell support structure therewith. The cells in each of the series of batteries have terminals of opposite polarity connected to respective conductors of the bracketing conductor pair such that all cells in a given series are connected in parallel with each other and the respective series of batteries are connected seriatim. The voltage potential of the array varies with the total number of the battery series in the array, and the current capacity of the array varies with the number of solar batteries per series.
- Assignee:
- General Electric Co., Philadelphia, PA
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4604494
- OSTI ID:
- 5346502
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELLS
CURRENTS
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL INSULATORS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
FASTENERS
HEAT TRANSFER
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR REFLECTORS
SPACE DEPENDENCE