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US 11,482,967 B2Granted
Concentrated solar photovoltaic and photothermal system
AssigneeThe Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund
InventorsDaniel Codd, Matthew David Escarra, Brian C. Riggs
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Abstract
The present invention provides a hybrid, concentrating photovoltaic-solar thermal (CPV/T) system and components thereof, and methods for converting solar energy to electricity at high efficiencies while capturing and storing solar thermal energy for later deployment.
Claims19
A concentrated solar photovoltaic and photothermal system, comprising:
- a solar concentrator having a focal point;
- a photovoltaic module located near the focal point, the photovoltaic module having a first side facing toward the solar concentrator and a second side facing away from the solar concentrator, the photovoltaic module being at least partially transparent to infrared light;
- a thermoplate formed from first and second metal sheets welded to each other to create a structured channel and a plurality of dimples that mix heat-transfer fluid flowing within the structured channel;
- an inlet port through which heat transfer fluid flows into the structured channel;
- and
- an outlet port through which heat transfer fluid flows out of the structured channel;
- wherein:
- the thermoplate forms a receiving aperture that faces the second side of the photovoltaic module and through which infrared light from the photovoltaic module passes;
- and
- the second metal sheet forms an interior cavity that absorbs, and converts into thermal heat, the infrared light passing through the receiving aperture;
- and
- the thermoplate is thermally isolated from the photovoltaic module to reduce heat flow therebetween.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.