A PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM USING REFLECTED SOLAR RAYS OF THE SURROUNDINGS AND METHODS THEREFOR, TO DISPOSE OF SNOW, FROST AND ICE

摘要

This invention relates to a photovoltaic system comprising a casing having mounted therein a plurality of solar cells. The casing has a front and opposite thereto, a rear. The front of the casing is provided with a light-transmitting panel for transmitting solar light to the solar cells. The rear is a double wall. A first wall is in contact with the back of the solar cells, and on its side away from the solar cells is of a dark-opaque colour, heat-absorbing surface. The second wall is a light-transmitting enclosure of the dark-opaque colour side of the first wall, but spaced therefrom so as to produce a greenhouse effect. A method to remove snow, frost and ice over a photovoltaic system involves maintaining the light-transmitting panel at an angle with the horizontal, receiving reflected solar rays from the surroundings of the photovoltaic systems through the light-transmitting enclosure to the outer side being dark-opaque colour to be absorbed by the outer side and converted into heat to be transmitted to, and thereby to raise the temperature of the light-transmitting panel. Simultaneously the light-transmitting enclosure creates a greenhouse effect and thereby an additional temperature increment to further raises the temperature of the light-transmitting panel to melt or sublimate snow, frost and ice present thereon.