Concentrated photovoltaic system modules using III-V semiconductor solar cells

摘要

A solar cell module to convert light to electricity. The module may include a housing with a first side and an opposing spaced-apart second side. A plurality of lenses may be positioned on the first side of the housing, and a plurality of solar cell receivers may be positioned on the second side of the housing. Each of the plurality of solar cell receivers may include a III-V compound semiconductor multifunction solar cell. Each may also include a bypass diode coupled with the solar cell. At least one optical element may be positioned above the solar cell to guide the light from one of the lenses onto the solar cell. Each of said solar cell receivers may be disposed in an optical path of one of the lenses. The lens and the at least one optical element may concentrate the light onto the respective solar cell by a factor of 1000 or more to generate in excess of 25 watts of peak power.

主权项

1. A solar cell module to convert light to electricity comprising:
a housing comprising a first side and an opposing spaced-apart second side; a plurality of lenses on the first side of the housing; and a plurality of solar cell receivers on the second side of the housing, each of the plurality of solar cell receivers comprising:
a III-V compound semiconductor multijunction solar cell includinga first surface and a second surface;a bypass diode coupled with the solar cell;a coating disposed over the bypass diode so as to substantially encapsulate the bypass diode;a heat sink positioned below the second surface of the solar cell and thermally coupled to the solar cell; each of said solar cell receivers being disposed in an optical path of one of the plurality of lenses, the solar cell module further including: a plurality of reflective elements each of which is disposed within an optical path of a corresponding one of the lenses, wherein light, which is received by the corresponding lens but is not focused by the corresponding lens directly onto a corresponding one of the solar cells, is reflected by the reflective element toward the corresponding solar cell; a plurality of brackets, each of which comprises thermally conductive material, wherein the plurality of brackets are configured to attach the plurality of reflective elements to the heat sinks of the plurality of solar cell receivers such that heat energy generated by the plurality of reflective elements is transferred to the heat sinks of the plurality of solar cell receivers through the plurality of brackets; and a plurality of solid glass concentrators, each of which is disposed within the optical path of a corresponding one of the lenses and is disposed between one of the reflective elements and the corresponding solar cell, each concentrator including an optical inlet that faces away from the corresponding solar cell and an optical outlet that faces towards the corresponding solar cell, the concentrator including a tapered shape with the optical inlet being larger than the optical outlet.