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US 7,622,666 B2Granted
Photovoltaic concentrator modules and systems having a heat dissipating element located within a volume in which light rays converge from an optical concentrating element towards a photovoltaic receiver
AssigneeSoliant Energy Inc.
InventorBraden E. Hines
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to photovoltaic power systems, photovoltaic concentrator modules, and related methods.
Claims26
A photovoltaic power system, comprising:
- a) a support structure having at least one interface that is structured to mate with existing solar panel mounting hardware;
- and
- b) a plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules coupled to the support structure such that a module is moveable and articulates in place relative to the support structure, each module comprising:
- i. at least one photovoltaic receiver;
- and
- ii. at least one optical concentrating element which optically concentrates incident light onto at least one corresponding photovoltaic receiver thereby defining a volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver, and wherein a photovoltaic concentrator module further comprises a heat-dissipating element that is located at least partially within the volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver.
3 more elements
A photovoltaic power system, comprising:
- a) a support structure;
- b) a plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules supported by the support structure in a manner such that a module is independently moveable with respect to the support structure, each module comprising:
- i. at least one photovoltaic receiver;
- ii. at least one optical concentrating element that concentrates incident light onto at least one corresponding photovoltaic receiver thereby defining a volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver;
- and
- c) a heat-dissipating element comprising at least one fin that is parallel to the optical axis of a module, wherein the heat dissipating element is located at least partially within the volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver.
3 more elements
A photovoltaic concentrator module, comprising:
- a) at least one photovoltaic receiver that converts incident sunlight into electrical energy;
- b) at least one optical concentrating element that concentrates incident light onto the photovoltaic receiver thereby defining a volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver;
- and
- c) a heat-dissipating element that is located at least partially within the volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver.
1 more element
A photovoltaic concentrator module assembly, comprising:
- a) a frame;
- b) an array of photovoltaic concentrator modules mounted to the frame in a manner such that at least one module is moveable and articulates in place relative to the frame, wherein each module comprises:
- i) at least one photovoltaic receiver that converts incident sunlight into electrical energy;
- and
- ii) at least one optical concentrating element that concentrates incident light to the photovoltaic receiver;
- and wherein at least one module further comprises a heat-dissipating element that is located at least partially within a volume in which light rays converge from the optical concentrating element towards the photovoltaic receiver;
- and
- c) a tracker system operatively coupled to the assembly, wherein the tracker system moves at least one of the modules based on a direction of incoming sunlight;
- and
- d) a source of power operatively coupled to the tracker system.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.