Title: Microsystem enabled photovoltaic modules and systems

Abstract

A microsystem enabled photovoltaic (MEPV) module including: an absorber layer; a fixed optic layer coupled to the absorber layer; a translatable optic layer; a translation stage coupled between the fixed and translatable optic layers; and a motion processor electrically coupled to the translation stage to controls motion of the translatable optic layer relative to the fixed optic layer. The absorber layer includes an array of photovoltaic (PV) elements. The fixed optic layer includes an array of quasi-collimating (QC) micro-optical elements designed and arranged to couple incident radiation from an intermediate image formed by the translatable optic layer into one of the PV elements such that it is quasi-collimated. The translatable optic layer includes an array of focusing micro-optical elements corresponding to the QC micro-optical element array. Each focusing micro-optical element is designed to produce a quasi-telecentric intermediate image from substantially collimated radiation incident within a predetermined field of view.

Inventors:

Nielson, Gregory N; Sweatt, William C; Okandan, Murat

Issue Date:

Tue May 12 00:00:00 EDT 2015

Research Org.:

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1179227

Patent Number(s):

9029681

Application Number:

12/914,441

Assignee:

Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS

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

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F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS

F24S23/30 - with lenses
F24S30/20 - for linear movement
F24S30/455 - Horizontal primary axis

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

H01L31/043 - Mechanically stacked PV cells
H01L31/054 - Optical elements directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
H01L31/0543 - {comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses}
H01L31/0547 - {comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection}
H01L31/0549 - {comprising spectrum splitting means, e.g. dichroic mirrors}

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

H02S20/32 - specially adapted for solar tracking

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

Y02E10/47 - Mountings or tracking
Y02E10/52 - PV systems with concentrators

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC04-94AL85000

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2010 Oct 28

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

14 SOLAR ENERGY; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION