Solar energy converter using a solar cell in a shallow liquid layer

#Solar energy systems have been used to provide electricity and heat for decades. Designers of all types of energy generation systems continually strive to improve output power efficiency. One current problem in a solar cell energy conversion system is the efficient extraction of low-cost electricity. The conversion efficiency of a photovoltaic cell is the proportion of sunlight energy that the cell converts to electrical energy. Improving efficiency is vital to producing solar cells that are competitive with traditional energy sources, such as fossil fuels and nuclear power. The efficiency of solar cells has increased substantially for the earliest conventional photovoltaic devices from about 1 to 2% efficiency. Current conventional photovoltaic systems convert 7% to 17% of light energy into electrical energy.

#What is first needed is a system and method for converting energy in a solar cell with extremely high efficiency. What are also needed are solar cell materials and structures, and solar cell fabrication procedures that are inexpensive while attaining high levels of efficiency in energy generation. A further need is a solar cell configuration that permits collection of concentrated sunlight energy for conversion to electricity to increase output power generation.

#Solar cells operating in liquid have an increased operating efficiency resulting from two independent physical phenomena, an increase in output current from the solar cells from simply wetting the solar cells, and enhanced collection of light through refraction and inner reflection of light in the liquid. Dielectric liquids are found to increase energy conversion efficiency of n/p junction solar cells and also function as a medium for optical concentration. The properties of dielectric liquid permit the construction of a solar cell panel with a suitable geometry for functioning as an optical concentrator.

#The features of the described embodiments believed to be novel are specifically set forth in the appended claims. However, embodiments of the invention relating to both structure and method of operation, may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of a solar panel in a configuration for improving energy conversion efficiency.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic pictorial diagram that illustrates an example of a photovoltaic cell that is suitable for usage in the solar panel.

#Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic block diagram depicts an example of a solar panel 100 in a suitable configuration for improving energy conversion efficiency. The solar panel 100 includes a panel base or tray 102 that forms a lower surface wall of the solar panel 100, and panel walls 104 on all sides of the solar panel 100 The solar panel 100 can have any shape. In one set of highly suitable examples, the solar panel 100 has the form of a low height cylindrical structure with the panel tray 102 covering one end of the cylinder and a panel lid 112 covering a second end of the cylinder. All or a portion of the panel walls 104 and the panel lid 112 are transparent to promote functionality as a light collector. The horizontal cross-section of the cylinder can have any suitable shape such as a circle, an ellipse, an oval, an egg-shape, a rectangle, a triangle, and a square. The cross-section of the cylinder can be symmetric or asymmetric. Generally a solar panel 100 with a simple shape is generally most cost-effective.

#The panel walls 104 improve output power efficiency of the solar panel 100 in two ways. First, and most obviously, the panel walls 104 hold the organic dielectric liquid 110 in the panel tray 102 and the liquid increases the energy conversion efficiency of photovoltaic cells 106. Second, the panel walls 104 can be transparent to function as a light collector that can add additional large increases to the output power of the solar cell. The panel walls 104 can be geometrically configured to operate as a lens containing the refractive liquid, forming an optical system that amplifies the power-enhancing effect of the liquid. In one example, the panel walls 104 can have the form of a curved lens for focusing the sunlight on the photovoltaic cell 106.

#In one example, the solar panel 100 has a rectangular shape and accordingly has four panel walls 104. Many other examples can have different geometric forms including various numbers of straight sides, curved forms, or combinations of sides and curves. The panel walls 104 and panel tray 102 intersect in liquid-tight connections so that the solar panel 100 holds liquid essentially without leakage.