Solar concentrator cooling by vortex gas circulation
AssigneesKing Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, International Business Machines Corporation
InventorsYves C. Martin, Robert L. Sandstrom, Theodore G. van Kessel, Hussam Khonkar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A convective method is employed to cool a solar concentrator device. The convective method employs formation of a vortex gas circulation inside an enclosure of the solar concentrator device, which is bounded by at least one light-path altering component, sidewalls, and a back panel. Optionally, a heat sink assembly can be provided within the enclosure. Internal convention through the vortex gas circulation transfers the heat generated at a photovoltaic cell to all surfaces of the solar concentrator device to facilitate radiative and/or convective cooling at the outside surfaces of the enclosure.
Claims25
A solar concentrator device comprising:
- an enclosure including at least one light-path altering component located at a front side, a back panel located at a back side, and at least one side panel extending from said at least one light-path altering component to said back panel;
- at least one photovoltaic cell located within said enclosure and on said back panel;
- and
- a fan located within said enclosure.
A method of operating a solar concentrator device comprising:
- providing a solar concentrator device comprising:
- an enclosure including at least one light-path altering component located at a front side, a back panel located at a back side, and at least one side panel extending from said at least one light-path altering component to said back panel,
- at least one photovoltaic cell located within said enclosure and on said back panel, and
- a fan located within said enclosure;
- and
- generating a vortex gas circulation within said enclosure by running said fan while said at least one photovoltaic cell generates electricity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.