Solar power system

Patent · Tue May 27 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:5565240

Mcgrew, S P

A system for generating electrical power from sunlight, comprises a focussing diffraction grating or other focussing, spectrally dispersive means and a photocell array. The diffraction grating focuses sunlight into a spectrally dispersed band. The photocell array is composed of cells with different spectral sensitivities, located in positions in the dispersed band corresponding to the cell spectral sensitivities so that the net conversion efficiency of sunlight to electricity exceeds the conversion efficiency attainable with nondispersive collectors and single material photocells. Alternate embodiments of the invention provide sun tracking means, reflective or transmissive diffraction gratings, flat or curved diffraction grating surfaces , on- or off-axis focus, and optical coatings on the photocell surfaces.

• Assignee: EDB-82-093992
• Patent Number(s): US 4204881
• OSTI ID: 5565240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140600* -- Solar Energy-- Photovoltaic Power Systems
COHERENT SCATTERING
DESIGN
DIFFRACTION
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
FOCUSING
OPTICAL DISPERSION
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
SCATTERING
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SPECTRALLY SELECTIVE SURFACES
SURFACES