US 2021/0203162 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN OUTPUT POWER SUPPLIED BY A PLURALITY OF CONVENTIONAL SOLAR CELLS

Abstract

A solar cell management system for increasing the efficiency and power output of a solar cell and methods for making and using the same. The management system provides an electric field across an individual solar cell, an array of solar cells configured as a panel, or a group of solar panels. The imposed electric field exerts a force on both the electrons and holes created by light incident on the solar cell and accelerates the electron-hole pairs towards the electrodes of the solar cell. Compared to conventional solar cells, these accelerated electron-hole pairs travel a shorter distance from creation (by incident optical radiation) and spend less time within the solar cell material, therefore the electron-hole pairs have a lower likelihood of recombining within the cells' semiconductor's material. This reduction in the electron-hole recombination rate results in an overall increase in the solar cells' efficiency and greater power output.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A system for controlling an output power supplied by a plurality of conventional solar cells, comprising:

a switching circuit including a first port for coupling with a voltage source circuit and a second port for coupling with one or more output power electrodes of the solar cells and being adapted to apply a direct-current (DC) output voltage from the voltage source circuit to the output power electrodes as one or more voltage pulses each with a positive magnitude by alternating between closing a current path between the voltage source circuit and the output power electrodes to generate an electric field at the solar cells during a first switching mode and opening the current path during a second switching mode;
and
a control circuit for adjusting a switching frequency between the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first duration of the first switching mode, a second duration of the second switching mode, a duty cycle of the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first repetition rate of the first switching mode, a second repetition rate of the second switching mode or a combination thereof to vary the electric field for controlling the output power supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrodes.

A method for controlling an output power supplied by a plurality of conventional solar cells, comprising:

coupling a first port of a switching circuit with a voltage source circuit, the switching circuit including a second port for coupling with one or more output power electrodes of the solar cells and being adapted to apply a direct-current (DC) output voltage from the voltage source circuit to the output power electrodes as one or more voltage pulses each with a positive magnitude by alternating between closing a current path between the voltage source circuit and the output power electrodes to generate an electric field at the solar cells during a first switching mode and opening the current path during a second switching mode,
wherein the switching circuit is coupled with a control circuit for adjusting a switching frequency between the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first duration of the first switching mode, a second duration of the second switching mode, a duty cycle of the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first repetition rate of the first switching mode, a second repetition rate of the second switching mode or a combination thereof to vary the electric field for controlling the output power supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrodes.

A method for controlling an output power supplied by a plurality of conventional solar cells, comprising:

coupling a second port of a switching circuit with one or more output power electrodes of the solar cells, the switching circuit including a first port for coupling with a voltage source circuit and being adapted to apply a direct-current (DC) output voltage from the voltage source circuit to the output power electrodes as one or more voltage pulses each with a positive magnitude by alternating between closing a current path between the voltage source circuit and the output power electrodes to generate an electric field at the solar cells during a first switching mode and opening the current path during a second switching mode,
wherein the switching circuit is coupled with a control circuit for adjusting a switching frequency between the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first duration of the first switching mode, a second duration of the second switching mode, a duty cycle of the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first repetition rate of the first switching mode, a second repetition rate of the second switching mode or a combination thereof to vary the electric field for controlling the output power supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrodes.

A computer program product for controlling an output power supplied by a plurality of conventional solar cells via one or more output power electrodes being coupled with a second port of a switching circuit, the switching circuit including a first port for coupling with a voltage source circuit, the computer program product being encoded on one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media and comprising:

instruction for alternating the switching circuit between a first switching mode for closing a current path between the voltage source circuit and the output power electrodes and a second switching mode for opening the current path, the switching circuit applying a direct-current (DC) output voltage from the voltage source circuit to the output power electrodes as one or more voltage pulses each with a positive magnitude to generate an electric field at the solar cells;
and
instruction for adjusting a switching frequency between the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first duration of the first switching mode, a second duration of the second switching mode, a duty cycle of the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first repetition rate of the first switching mode, a second repetition rate of the second switching mode or a combination thereof to vary the electric field for controlling the output power supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrodes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for controlling an output power supplied by a plurality of conventional solar cells

Life of this patent

System and method for controlling an output power supplied by a plurality of conventional solar cells

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38