| 摘要 |
A solar energy module includes a photovoltaic unit including a layer of one or more solar cells. The layer has a front side exposed to incident radiation and an opposite back side. The solar energy module also includes a thermal unit thermally coupled to the back side of the layer of one or more solar cells. The thermal unit includes one or more channels through which a thermal transfer fluid flows, wherein a portion of the incident radiation is converted into electricity by the layer of one or more solar cells and a portion of the incident radiation is simultaneously converted to heat for increasing the temperature of the thermal transfer fluid. The solar energy module also includes a heating system to further increase the temperature of the thermal transfer fluid. The heating system is powered by electricity generated by the one or more solar cells. The solar energy module further includes a controller for controlling the relative amounts of heat and electricity output by the solar energy module by controlling the amount of electricity produced by the one or more solar cells that is diverted to the heating system for increasing the temperature of the thermal transfer fluid. |
