Solar panels with liquid superconcentrators exhibiting wide fields of view

A system for deriving an electrical output from radiation of the sun, comprising:

• one or more arrays of panels supported over a ground surface between oppositely disposed panel array ends;
• each said panel having an array of solar radiation responsive cells, each comprising:
• a generally upwardly disposed primary concentrator configured with one or more liquid retaining polymeric surfaces defining an imaging lens performing in conjunction with adjacent primary concentrators to derive a field of view of extent effective to receive solar radiation extending toward said panels throughout a substantial portion of a daytime defined interval of said radiation and to effect an imaging thereof toward an imaging plane, a secondary concentrator configured with one or more liquid retaining polymeric surfaces with a receiving side located to receive solar radiation from an imaging lens and inwardly tapering to effect a non-imaging internal reflection of received solar radiation deriving homogenized solar radiation of generally uniform intensity, and a multijunction photovoltaic cell having a receiving side located for photovoltaic interaction with said homogenized solar radiation and in heat transfer relationship with said liquid and responsive to radiation impinging upon said receiving side to derive a cell electrical output;
• each said panel further comprising:
• a generally flat back support supported over said ground surface having an outwardly disposed frame structure configured to support said array of solar radiation cells in stationary fashion and said back support supporting a cell array network coupled with each said cell electrical output and having one or more panel outputs;
• said panel outputs of each said array of panels being electrically interconnected to derive one or more panel array outputs at one or more panel array end locations;
• and
• one or more storage cell assemblies coupled in charging relationship with a said panel array output.

Panel apparatus for deriving an electrical output from radiation of the sun, comprising:

• a generally stationary array of optical cells each having an outwardly disposed imaging lens component disposed about a cell axis, performing in conjunction with adjacent imaging lens components to derive a field of view effective for accepting solar radiation during a substantial portion of a day, exhibiting an imaging lens exit area and generally imaging accepted radiation to an image plane, and one or more non-imaging internally reflecting concentrator components receiving radiation from said image plane at a non-imaging region entrance and concentrating it to an exit plane exhibiting a concentration area substantially less than said exit area to define a concentration ratio;
• an array of discreet multijunction photovoltaic cells each having an active receiving surface of area extent generally corresponding with said concentration area, located substantially at said exit plane and having a photovoltaic output in response to radiation at said exit plane;
• and
• a collection network with circuit components receiving each said photovoltaic output and providing one or more panel outputs.

A system for deriving an electrical output from radiation of the sun, comprising:

• one or more arrays of panels supported in substantially stationary fashion from a ground surface;
• each said panel of said one or more arrays of panels comprising an array of superconcentrator optical cells each having an outwardly facing imaging lens component disposed about a cell axis, performing in conjunction with adjacent imaging lens components to exhibit a field of view effective for accepting solar radiation during a substantial portion of a day, exhibiting an imaging lens exit area and generally imaging accepted radiation to an image plane, and one or more, non-imaging, internally reflecting concentrator components receiving radiation from said image plane, effecting its homogenization and concentrating it to an exit plane exhibiting a concentration area substantially less than said imaging lens exit area to define a concentration ratio;
• each said panel having a corresponding array of discrete multijunction photovoltaic cells each such cell having an active receiving surface of area extent generally corresponding with said concentration area, located substantially at said exit plane to define a sparse photovoltaic cell array and each having a photovoltaic cell output in response to radiation at said exit plane;
• each said panel having a panel collection network with circuit components receiving each said photovoltaic cell output and providing one or more panel outputs;
• and
• said panel outputs within said array of panels being combined to provide one or more array outputs.