Integrated solar energy conversion system, method, and apparatus

Abstract

A solar energy conversion package includes a photovoltaic (PV) cell, a thermionic or thermoelectric conversion unit and a thermal heating system. Solar radiation is concentrated by a lens or reflector and directed to the PV cell for electrical power conversion. A water circulation system maintains the PV cell at working temperatures. The thermionic or thermoelectric conversion cell is coupled between these cells in the thermal path to generate additional power. Additional efficiencies may be gained by partitioning the solar radiation with prisms or wavelength specific filters or reflective coatings into discrete spectrum segments optimized for each conversion unit for maximizing efficiency of electrical energy conversion and equipment design. Integrating all three of these conversion techniques produces a synergistic system that exceeds the performance conventional solar conversion systems.

1 . A solar energy conversion system, comprising:
 a housing;   a cover lens positioned adjacent the housing for concentrating solar energy;   a package for converting the concentrated solar energy, the package being positioned adjacent the housing opposite the cover lens, the package comprising:   a photovoltaic (PV) cell for converting solar energy into electrical power;   a thermoelectric (TE) cell for converting solar energy into electrical power; and   a water circulation system for capturing excess thermal energy for heating purposes.   
   
   
       2 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is selected from the group consisting of parabolic, conical, round, linear, square, and hexagonal reflectors. 
   
   
       3 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover lens is selected from the group consisting of a fresnel lens and a convex lens, and is positioned adjacent an incoming solar radiation end of the housing. 
   
   
       4 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has an aperture located opposite the cover lens, and the PV cell is located adjacent the aperture and has an efficiency rating of about 6% to 34% for producing electrical power from solar energy. 
   
   
       5 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the water circulation system reduces an operating temperature of the PV cell to extend a usable life of the PV cell, and the water circulation system has an efficiency rating of about 25% to 50% for absorbing heat from solar energy. 
   
   
       6 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the TE cell has an efficiency rating of about 2% to 25% for producing electrical power from solar energy. 
   
   
       7 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the package harnesses over 50% of the solar energy incident on the package. 
   
   
       8 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the TE cell is positioned adjacent the PV cell opposite the housing, and the water circulation system is positioned adjacent the TE cell opposite the PV cell. 
   
   
       9 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the TE cell is positioned between the PV cell and the cover lens within a volume of the housing, the water circulation system is positioned adjacent the PV cell and continues adjacent the TE cell, opposite the incident solar energy. 
   
   
       10 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is positioned between the PV cell and the TE cell for directing reflected solar energy toward the TE cell, the water circulation system is positioned adjacent non-irradiated sides of the PV and TE cells, and an aperture is formed in the housing for permitting solar energy not absorbed by the TE cell to be directed toward the PV cell. 
   
   
       11 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 10 , wherein the PV cell is covered with an optical phosphor that shifts non-optimum wavelengths to optimum wavelengths for greater energy conversion. 
   
   
       12 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 11 , wherein a secondary reflector collimates solar flux towards a prism to separate wavelengths and a slotted thermal plane passes PV efficient wavelengths to the PV cell and absorbs the remaining wavelengths for conduction to the TE cell. 
   
   
       13 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 12 , wherein a heat pipe conducts thermal energy from a slotted wavelength separator to the TE cell. 
   
   
       14 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 12 , wherein a stack of wavelength specific filters absorbs non-optimum PV wavelengths, transfers them to a heat pipe, which conducts thermal energy to the TE cell. 
   
   
       15 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 12 , wherein a primary fresnel lens concentrates spectral solar radiation to a secondary concave collimating lens and directs a light beam to the prism for separation into wavelengths for enhanced solar energy conversion. 
   
   
       16 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 12 , wherein the TE cell is a heat absorption cell for a system selected from the group consisting of a thermal-steam powered energy generation system and a Sterling engine system. 
   
   
       17 . A method of converting solar energy into usable energy, comprising:
 (a) concentrating solar energy with a housing having a cover lens onto a package;   (b) converting the concentrated solar energy with the package by:
 (i) converting a portion of the solar energy into electrical power with a photovoltaic (PV) cell and with a thermoelectric (TE) cell; and 
 (ii) capturing excess thermal energy with a water circulation system for heating purposes. 
   
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein step (a) comprises providing the housing with a shape selected from the group consisting of parabolic, conical, round, linear, square, and hexagonal reflectors; and the cover lens is selected from the group consisting of a fresnel lens and a convex lens, and is positioned adjacent an incoming solar radiation end of the housing. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein step (a) comprises providing the housing with an aperture located opposite the cover lens; and further comprising locating the PV cell adjacent the aperture, the PV cell having an efficiency rating of about 6% to 34% for producing electrical power from solar energy; and the TE cell having an efficiency rating of about 2% to 25% for producing electrical power from solar energy. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein step (b) comprises reducing a temperature of the PV cell with the water circulation system to extend a useful life of the PV cell, the water circulation system having an efficiency rating of about 25% to 50% for absorbing heat from solar energy, and the package harnessing over 50% of the solar energy incident on the package. 
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein step (b) comprises positioning the TE cell adjacent the PV cell opposite the housing, and positioning the water circulation system adjacent the TE cell opposite the PV cell. 
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein step (b) comprises positioning the TE cell between the PV cell and the cover lens within a volume of the housing, and positioning the water circulation system adjacent the PV cell and adjacent the TE cell, opposite the incident solar energy. 
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein step (b) comprises positioning the housing between the PV cell and the TE cell for directing reflected solar energy toward the TE cell, positioning the water circulation system adjacent non-irradiated sides of the PV and TE cells, and forming an aperture in the housing for permitting solar energy not absorbed by the TE cell to be directed toward the PV cell. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23 , further comprising covering the PV cell with an optical phosphor that shifts non-optimum wavelengths to optimum wavelengths for greater energy conversion, and collimating solar flux with a secondary reflector towards a prism to separate wavelengths and a slotted thermal plane passes PV efficient wavelengths to the PV cell and absorbs the remaining wavelengths for conduction to the TE cell. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 24 , further comprising conducting thermal energy with a heat pipe from a slotted wavelength separator to the TE cell, and absorbing non-optimum PV wavelengths with a stack of wavelength specific filters, and transferring them to a heat pipe that conducts thermal energy to the TE cell. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 24 , further comprising concentrating spectral solar radiation with a primary fresnel lens to a secondary concave collimating lens and directing a light beam to the prism for separation into wavelengths for enhanced solar energy conversion; and wherein the TE cell is a heat absorption cell for a system selected from the group consisting of a thermal-steam powered energy generation system and a Sterling engine system.