Solar energy receiver

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention may utilize one or more techniques, alone or in combination, to maximize a surface area of a receiver that is configured to convert light into another form of energy. One technique enhances collection efficiency by controlling a size, shape, and/or position of a cell relative to an expected illumination profile under various conditions. Another technique positions non-active elements (such as electrical contacts and/or interconnects) on surfaces likely to be shaded from incident light by other elements of the receiver. Another technique utilizes embodiments of interconnect structures occupying a small footprint. According to certain embodiments, the receiver may be cooled by exposure to a fluid such as water or air.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar energy receiver comprising:
 a support structure;   a plurality of active photovoltaic (PV) devices disposed on the support structure, each PV device including an active receiver element and one or more non-active elements;   wherein the plurality of PV devices are arranged such that active receiver element of a first PV device at least partially hides a non-active element of a second PV device from incident light.   
     
     
         2 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 1  wherein the second PV device is adjacent to the first PV device. 
     
     
         3 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of active PV devices comprise back contact PV cells. 
     
     
         4 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 3  wherein the back contact PV cells include at least one of: through silicon via (TSV) cells, emitter cells, or metallization wrap through cells. 
     
     
         5 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of active PV devices comprise front contact PV cells. 
     
     
         6 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 5  wherein:
 a busbar of a first front contact PV cell is in electrical communication with a back contact of a second front contact PV cell through an electrically conducting adhesive. 
 
     
     
         7 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 6  wherein the electrically conducting adhesive includes a solder. 
     
     
         8 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 1  wherein the active receiver element comprises a reflector and wherein the reflector comprises a central reflector and/or a peripheral reflector. 
     
     
         9 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 1  wherein the non-active element comprises an electrical interconnect between two adjacent active PV devices. 
     
     
         10 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of the active PV devices comprise front contact PV cells and wherein the front contact PV cells are arranged in an annulus. 
     
     
         11 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 1  wherein the support structure comprises:
 a thermally conducting substrate having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface; 
 a metal layer disposed on the lower surface; 
 one or more cooling channels coupled to the lower surface; and 
 a printed circuit board (PCB) coupled to the upper surface. 
 
     
     
         12 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of active PV devices are non-square in shape. 
     
     
         13 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 1  wherein the one or more non-active elements comprise an interconnect, a busbar, a contact, a through hole, or a diode. 
     
     
         14 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of active PV devices are disposed in an annular arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . A solar energy receiver comprising:
 a first photovoltaic (PV) device comprising:
 a first front surface and a first front contact disposed on the first front surface, the first front contact having a first electrical polarity, wherein the first front contact occupies a portion of the first front surface; and 
 a first back surface and a first back contact disposed on the first back surface, the first back contact having a second electrical polarity opposite to the first electrical polarity, wherein the first back contact occupies a portion of the first back surface; and 
   a second PV device comprising:
 a second front surface and a second front contact disposed on the second front surface, the second front contact having a third electrical polarity, wherein the second front contact occupies a portion of the second front surface; and 
 a second back surface and a second back contact disposed on the second back surface, the second back contact having a fourth electrical polarity opposite to the third electrical polarity, wherein the second back contact occupies a portion of the second back surface; 
   wherein the second front contact of the second PV device underlies the first back contact of the first PV device and wherein only the portion of the first back surface of the first PV device overlies the second front surface of the second PV device.   
     
     
         16 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a third photovoltaic (PV) device comprising:
 a third front surface and a third front contact disposed on the third front surface, the third front contact having a fifth electrical polarity, wherein the third front contact occupies a portion of the third front surface; and 
 a third back surface and a third back contact disposed on the third back surface, the third back contact having a sixth electrical polarity opposite to the fifth electrical polarity, wherein the third back contact occupies a portion of the third back surface; and 
 
 wherein the second back contact of the second PV device overlies the third front contact of the third PV device and wherein only the portion of the second back surface of the second PV device overlies the third front surface of the third PV device. 
 
     
     
         17 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 15  wherein the first PV device, the second PV device, and the third PV device are disposed in a shingle arrangement. 
     
     
         18 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 15  wherein the second front contact of the second PV device is electrically connected to the first back contact of the first PV device using an electrically conducting adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 15  wherein the second front contact of the second PV device is electrically connected to the first back contact of the first PV device using a connection stack. 
     
     
         20 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 19  wherein the connection stack comprises a plurality of layers. 
     
     
         21 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 15  further comprising a substrate configured to support the first PV device and the second PV device. 
     
     
         22 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 21  wherein the substrate comprises one or more facets and each PV device is aligned in a facet. 
     
     
         23 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 22  wherein a first facet is disposed in a first plane and a second facet is disposed in a second plane different from the first plane. 
     
     
         24 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 15  wherein a shape of the first PV device is one of: a rectangle, a trapezoid, or a polygon. 
     
     
         25 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 15  further comprising one or more extent sensors configured to track a position of sun. 
     
     
         26 . A system comprising:
 a solar energy receiver including a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) devices;   a plurality of extent sensors coupled to the solar energy receiver; and   a tracking mechanism coupled to the solar energy receiver,   wherein the plurality of extent sensors are configured to track a position of the sun in the sky and provide the position information to the tracking mechanism; and   wherein the tracking mechanism is configured to orient the solar energy receiver based on the position information received from the plurality of extent sensors, the tracking mechanism comprising:
 a tracking control unit configured to receive the position information from the plurality of extent sensors and determine an orientation for the solar energy receiver; and 
 a motor control unit configured to receive coordinates for the orientation from the tracking control unit and operate one or more motors to orient the solar energy receiver in the determined orientation. 
   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the solar energy receiver has an associated illumination region and wherein the plurality of extent sensors are located along a periphery of the illumination region. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the solar energy receiver has an associated illumination region and wherein the plurality of extent sensors are used to control an area of the illumination region. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the plurality of extent sensors are mounted on the solar energy receiver.