Photovoltaic-phase change battery system for converting intermittent solar power into day and night electric power
OwnerJerry M. Woodall, Thomas E. Rowleyinventors
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Abstract
A photovoltaic phase change battery system for converting intermittent solar power into day and night electrical power is disclosed. A photovoltaic array is pointed toward a solar energy source, such as Earth's sun during daytime operation, where a portion of the electricity generated is used to convert a pool of phase change material to a molten state. During night time operation the photovoltaic array is pointed at the phase change material to receive photons from thermal radiation and continue the electricity generating process.
Claims8
A photovoltaic phase change battery system for converting intermittent solar power into day and night electrical power, the system comprising:
- a photovoltaic cell array;
- a phase change material capable of achieving a molten state or a molten-solid state and radiating photons while in said molten state or in a molten-solid state;
- said photovoltaic cell array facing a solar energy source so as to receive photons from said solar energy source to produce electricity, wherein a portion of said electricity production is channeled to a heater, said heater being in contact with said phase change material to change said phase change material into a molten state or a molten-solid state;
- said same photovoltaic cell array facing said phase change material being in a molten state or a molten-solid state so as to receive photons from said phase change material to produce electricity;
- wherein said photovoltaic cell array is attached to a stand, said stand being capable of articulating said photovoltaic cell array into a first position for facing a solar energy source, said stand being capable of articulating said same photovoltaic cell array into a second position for facing said phase change material in a molten state or a molten-solid state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.