Devices and methods for increasing solar hydrogen conversion efficiency in photovoltaic electrolysis

Abstract

Devices and methods for photovoltaic electrolysis are disclosed. A device comprises a photovoltaic cell element and an electrolysis compartment. The photovoltaic cell element is configured to convert a portion of solar energy into electrical energy and to pass another portion of the solar energy. The electrolysis compartment includes an aqueous electrolyte positioned to receive the other portion of the solar energy and electrodes electrically connected to receive the electrical energy produced by the photovoltaic cell element. A method comprises receiving solar energy with a photovoltaic cell element, converting a portion of the solar energy into electrical energy, passing another portion of the solar energy through the photovoltaic cell element, receiving with an aqueous electrolyte the other portion of the solar energy, transmitting the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic cell element to a pair of electrodes, and electrolyzing the aqueous electrolyte with the pair of electrodes.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A device for photovoltaic electrolysis comprising:
 a photovoltaic cell element configured to convert a portion of solar energy received into electrical energy, the photovoltaic cell element configured to pass another portion of the solar energy; and   an electrolysis compartment including an aqueous electrolyte positioned to receive the other portion of the solar energy passing through the photovoltaic cell element, the electrolysis compartment including electrodes electrically connected to receive the electrical energy produced by the photovoltaic cell element.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic cell element comprises a thin film photovoltaic layer. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolysis compartment comprises at least one transparent substrate, the transparent substrate configured to pass the other portion of the solar energy through to the aqueous electrolyte. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the other portion of the solar energy comprises infrared radiation; and   the infrared radiation heats the aqueous electrolyte.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein
 the electrolysis compartment includes a flow of aqueous electrolyte passing between the electrodes; and   the aqueous electrolyte is heated by the infrared radiation before flowing between the electrodes.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein a portion of the heated aqueous electrolyte flows to a hot water storage chamber or a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the photovoltaic cell element includes an encapsulant layer; and   the aqueous electrolyte in the electrolysis compartment contacts the encapsulant layer.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the electrolysis compartment includes a first flow of aqueous electrolyte in contact with the encapsulant layer and a second flow of aqueous electrolyte passing between the electrodes.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second flows are substantially opposite in direction. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the first flow is positioned between the photovoltaic cell element and the second flow. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the photovoltaic cell element is spaced from the electrolysis compartment by an air gap.   
     
     
         12 . A method for photovoltaic electrolysis comprising:
 receiving solar energy with a photovoltaic cell element;   converting a portion of the received solar energy into electrical energy with the photovoltaic cell element;   passing another portion of the received solar energy through the photovoltaic cell element;   receiving with an aqueous electrolyte the other portion of the solar energy passing through the photovoltaic cell element;   transmitting the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic cell element to a pair of electrodes; and   electrolyzing the aqueous electrolyte with the pair of electrodes.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of passing the other portion of the solar energy to the aqueous electrolyte through a transparent substrate of an electrolysis compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein
 the other portion of the solar energy comprises infrared radiation, and   the step of receiving the other portion of solar energy comprises heating the aqueous electrolyte with the infrared radiation.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of flowing the aqueous electrolyte between the pair of electrodes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of heating the aqueous electrolyte with the infrared radiation comprises heating the aqueous electrolyte before it flows between the pair of electrodes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising one of the steps of
 storing the heated aqueous electrolyte in a hot water storage chamber; or   flowing the heated aqueous electrolyte to a heat exchanger.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of receiving the other portion of solar energy comprises receiving the other portion of the solar energy with an aqueous electrolyte in contact with an encapsulant layer of the photovoltaic cell element. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of
 flowing the aqueous electrolyte in contact with the encapsulant layer, and then   flowing the aqueous electrolyte between the pair of electrodes.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of passing the other portion of the received solar energy through the photovoltaic cell element comprises passing the other portion of the received solar energy through an air gap to an electrolysis compartment.