Solar receiver

Abstract

A solar receiver having a power conversion layer in the shape of a ring, the ring having a first axis of revolution, a photovoltaic active front surface and a back surface, a width and a diameter. The power conversion layer is made of PV cells positioned to form a ring, the plurality of PV cells being divided into several interleaved groups to form a plurality of electrical circuits, with each electrical circuit having cells distributed uniformly around the ring.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar receiver having a power conversion layer in the shape of a ring, said ring having a first axis of revolution, a photovoltaic active front surface and a back surface, a width and a diameter. 
     
     
         2 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein said power conversion layer is of a shape belonging to the group consisting of cylindrical ring, flat ring, or conical ring. 
     
     
         3 . The receiver of  claim 1 , further comprising an annular substrate in thermal contact with said back surface of said power conversion layer, said annular substrate having the same axis of revolution as said power conversion layer and a thermal conductivity better than 100 W/m-K. 
     
     
         4 . The receiver of  claim 3 , wherein said annular substrate being made from a material from the group consisting of Copper, Aluminum, Copper alloys, Aluminum alloys, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The receiver of  claim 3 , further comprising a ring-shaped first conduit configured to deliver coolant fluid onto the annular substrate, and having an axis of revolution coincident with said first axis of revolution. 
     
     
         6 . The receiver of  claim 3 , further comprising a ring shaped second conduit configured to evacuate coolant fluid from near said annular substrate, and having an axis of revolution coincident with said first axis of revolution. 
     
     
         7 . The receiver of  claim 6 , wherein the pressure within said second conduit is below 1 Atmosphere. 
     
     
         8 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein said power conversion layer is comprised of a plurality of PV cells. 
     
     
         9 . The receiver of  claim 8 , wherein said PV cells are grouped into a plurality of circuits, the cells within each circuit being electrically connected in parallel, and wherein the PV cells are physically distributed to form a ring, such that any quadrant of the ring contains at most a third of the PV cells of any circuit of the plurality of circuits. 
     
     
         10 . The receiver of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of circuits are connected to each other in series. 
     
     
         11 . The receiver of  claim 3 , further comprising ceramic support positioned between the back surface and the annular substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein said power conversion layer is comprised of a plurality of PV cells, said PV cells are grouped into a plurality of circuits, the PV cells within each circuit being electrically connected in parallel, and wherein the PV cells are physically distributed to form a ring such that any contiguous half of the ring contains at most 60% of the cells of any circuit. 
     
     
         13 . The receiver of  claim 12 , wherein the circuits are connected to each other in series. 
     
     
         14 . The receiver of  claim 13 , wherein the PV cells are interleaved to form the plurality of circuits. 
     
     
         15 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein said power conversion layer is comprised of a plurality of PV cells, said PV cells are grouped into a plurality of zones, the cells of each zone being physically contiguous, and wherein the plurality of PV cells are also grouped into a plurality of electrical circuits, each electrical circuit comprised of at least one PV cell from every zone. 
     
     
         16 . The receiver of  claim 15 , wherein the electrical circuits are connected to each other in series. 
     
     
         17 . The receiver of  claim 1 , further comprising an optical element, said optical element being of a shape of revolution around said first axis of revolution and having an annular input aperture and an annular output aperture, said shape of revolution having a generatrix form, and said optical element configured to transmit solar light arriving into said input aperture through said output aperture and onto said photovoltaic active front surface. 
     
     
         18 . The receiver of  claim 17 , wherein the generatrix of said optical element comprises at least one parabolic arc. 
     
     
         19 . The receiver of  claim 1 , further comprising a reflector dish configured to concentrate solar light onto the photovoltaic active front surface. 
     
     
         20 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein said power conversion layer is comprised of a plurality of PV cells positioned to form a ring, the plurality of PV cells divided into several interleaved groups to form a plurality of electrical circuits, with each electrical circuit having cells distributed uniformly around the ring.