Photothermophotovoltaic converter
AssigneeGA Technologies Inc.
InventorLawrence D. Woolf
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A photothermophotovoltaic energy conversion system converts solar energy to electrical energy and includes a radiator and a photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell receives incoming energy, including solar energy, and converts a first portion of the incoming energy to electrical energy. The photovoltaic cell includes a reflector for reflecting a second portion of the incoming energy to the radiator to heat it. The heated radiator in turn radiates energy back to the photovoltaic cell for subsequent energy conversion therein of a first portion thereof. A second portion is reflected to the radiator, conserving heat.
Claims18
A photothermophotovoltaic energy conversion system for converting solar energy to electrical energy, comprising:
- a radiator;
- and
- photovoltaic cell means for receiving incoming electromagnetic radiant energy including said solar energy and converting a first portion of said incoming energy to electrical energy and having reflecting means for reflecting a second portion of said incoming energy to said radiator;
- said radiator being disposed to receive said second portion of said energy from said at least one photovoltaic cell and be heated thereby for radiating energy back to said photovoltaic cell means for subsequent energy conversion therein.
A method of converting solar energy to electrical energy, comprising:
- receiving incoming electromagnetic radiant energy including solar energy with photovoltaic cell means;
- converting a first portion of said incoming energy to electrical energy in said photovoltaic cell means;
- reflecting a second portion of said incoming energy;
- and
- receiving said reflected second portion of said incoming energy with a radiator to heat said radiator so as to radiate energy back to said photovoltaic cell means for subsequent energy conversion therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.