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US 4,002,031 AGranted
Solar energy converter with waste heat engine
AssigneeVarian Associates, Inc.
InventorRonald L. Bell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar energy converter uses gallium arsenide photovoltaic cells to convert light to direct current. Optical concentrators reduce the needed area of cells. Gallium arsenide retains high conversion efficiency up to several hundred degrees, so the waste heat may be used to produce mechanical power in a Rankine cycle engine.
Claims5
A solar energy converter comprising:
- collector means for concentrating solar electromagnetic radiation,
- a gallium arsenide junction cell for receiving said concentrated radiation and converting a portion thereof to electrical energy,
- means for transferring heat from said cell to a circulating fluid, and
- heat engine means for converting a portion of said heat to mechanical energy.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.