| 摘要 |
A differential voltage cell includes one or more units each comprising a photovoltaic device or solar cell 2 and a thermoelectric Peltier device 4. The two devices are separated from one another by a layer 3 of thermally conducting but electrically insulating material and the Peltier device is thermally connected by a layer 5 to a heat sink or heat exchanger 6. The outputs from the two devices are electrically connected. A lens 1 serves to concentrate sunlight on the photovoltaic device. The temperature generated in the photovoltaic device 2, which would otherwise be wasted, creates a temperature difference which provides an electrical output from the thermoelectric device 4. This may enable the output and/or the efficiency of the cell to be increased as compared with the photovoltaic cell alone of similar area. Heat exchangers may be incorporated in the layer 3 and/or the layer 5 to control operation of the cell and/or to provide useful heat for other purposes. |
