Systems and methods for collecting solar energy for conversion to electrical energy with multiple thermodynamic engines and piezoelectric generators

A solar array, comprising:

• a plurality of solar collectors;
• an optical switch located in free space at an output of each of the plurality of solar collectors;
• one or more reflective surfaces located in free space, wherein each of the one or more reflective surfaces is positioned substantially adjacent to two or more devices;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the optical switch and the one or more reflective surfaces, wherein the controller is configured to control the optical switch and the one or more reflective surfaces to provide collected solar energy from the plurality of solar collectors to the two or more devices in a pulsating manner.

A solar energy conversion method, comprising:

• collecting solar energy;
• directing the collected solar energy into a first device for a first time period;
• generating electricity with the first device;
• repeating the directing and generating steps for one or more devices each for additional time periods each corresponding to the one or more devices;
• and
• cooling one or more of the first device and the one or more devices while collected energy is being directed into another device.