Solar energy converter

Patent · Tue Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6523315

Sher, A

Radiant energy is converted into electric energy by irradiating a capacitor including an ionic dielectric having a dipole layer only on or near its surface. The dielectric is selected from the group consisting of the rare earth trifluorides and trichlorides, preferably lanthanum trifluoride or lanthanum trichloride. The radiant energy cyclically heats and cools the dielectric to cause cyclic changes in the capacitance and resistance of the capacitor without changing the dielectric state. The capacitor is initially charged to a voltage just below the dielectric breakdown voltage by connecting it across a source of emf causing a current to flow through a charging resistor to the dielectric. The device can be utilized as a radiant energy detector, as well as a solar energy cell. In the latter case, the dielectric is heated and cooled at a predetermined frequency and the capacitor is connected in circuit with a means for resonating the capacitor at the frequency. Plural capacitors are arrayed and illuminated with different phases so that the solar energy illuminates at least one of the capacitors substantially all of the time.

• Assignee: TIC; ERA-04-015491; EDB-79-024164
• Patent Number(s): US 4096393
• OSTI ID: 6523315
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140500* -- Solar Energy Conversion
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300000 -- Direct Energy Conversion
CAPACITORS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CONVERSION
DESIGN
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICITY
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
FERROELECTRIC CONVERTERS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HEAT TRANSFER
LANTHANUM CHLORIDES
LANTHANUM COMPOUNDS
LANTHANUM FLUORIDES
MONITORING
RADIANT HEAT TRANSFER
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION