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US 12,388,390 B2Granted
Nonreciprocal solar thermophotovoltaics
AssigneeUniversity of Houston System
InventorsBo Zhao, Sina Jafari Ghalekohneh
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Abstract
A nonreciprocal Solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) system includes an absorber configured to absorb broad-spectrum solar radiation and generate heat an intermediate emitter, and a single-junction photovoltaic cell configured to convert solar radiation to electrical energy. The intermediate emitter includes nonreciprocal radiative properties. The nonreciprocal radiative properties include absorbing light from the front side but only emitting light to the backside.
Claims11
A nonreciprocal solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) system comprising:
- a cylinder including:
- a nonreciprocal intermediate layer, configured to eliminate a back emission towards a source of broad-spectrum solar radiation, the nonreciprocal intermediate layer including:
- an absorber configured to absorb broad-spectrum solar radiation and generate heat, the absorber being a side surface of the cylinder;
- and
- an emitter having nonreciprocal radiative properties and configured to absorb the heat, wherein the emitter is disposed on a top surface of the cylinder;
- and
- a photovoltaic cell configured to convert radiation from the emitter to electrical energy, wherein the photovoltaic cell is cylindrically disposed around the cylinder,
- wherein a first intensity of emission from the nonreciprocal intermediate layer is higher than a second intensity of emission from the photovoltaic cell.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.