VERTICALLY STACKED PHOTOVOLTAIC AND THERMAL SOLAR CELL

摘要

The present invention provides a novel photovoltaic solar cell system from photovoltaic modules that are vertically arrayed in a stack format using thin film semiconductors selected from among organic and inorganic thin film semiconductors. The stack cells may be cells that are produced in a planar manner, then vertically oriented in an angular form, also termed herein tilted, to maximize the light capturing aspects. The use of a stack configuration system allows for the use of transparent materials or semitransparent metals. Light is reflected back through the device by beveling or capping the end of the device with a different refractive index material. The contacting between stacked cells can be done in series or parallel. The present invention uses a concentrator architecture where the light is channeled into the cells that contain thermal fluid channels to absorb and hence reduce the thermal energy generation.