Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10F—INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
  • H10F77/00—Constructional details of devices covered by this subclass
  • H10F77/40—Optical elements or arrangements
  • H10F77/407—Optical elements or arrangements indirectly associated with the devices
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
  • H02S40/00—Components or accessories in combination with PV modules, not provided for in groups H02S10/00 - H02S30/00
  • H02S40/20—Optical components
  • H02S40/22—Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10F—INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
  • H10F77/00—Constructional details of devices covered by this subclass
  • H10F77/40—Optical elements or arrangements
  • H10F77/42—Optical elements or arrangements directly associated or integrated with photovoltaic cells, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
  • H10F77/484—Refractive light-concentrating means, e.g. lenses
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10F—INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
  • H10F77/00—Constructional details of devices covered by this subclass
  • H10F77/40—Optical elements or arrangements
  • H10F77/42—Optical elements or arrangements directly associated or integrated with photovoltaic cells, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
  • H10F77/488—Reflecting light-concentrating means, e.g. parabolic mirrors or concentrators using total internal reflection
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
  • Y02E10/52—PV systems with concentrators

Definitions

• the invention relates to the spatial structure of a concentrator of solar radiation or of a photovoltaic module.
• the invention also relates to a photovoltaic module equipped with this concentrator of solar radiation with this structure.
• photovoltaic cells of various types are used to convert solar energy into electrical energy.
• These photovoltaic cells have the shape of a planar square plate, typically with dimensions of approximately 100 x 100 mm to about 150 x 150 mm, and their production has been standardized worldwide to a large extent and widely established.
• photovoltaic cells are arranged within photovoltaic modules in regular geometric figures, most often planar, wherein they are electrically connected to each other in series (less commonly in parallel) within these modules - see, e.g., “How do PV panels or PV cells work?”, National Lighting Product Informational Program, Lighting Answers, Volume 9 Issue 3, July 2006, figure 3 (available at http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/proqrams/nlpip/liqhtinqAnswers/photovoltaic/04- photovoltaic-panels-work.asp) or Alternative Energy tutorials, Solar Photovoltaic Panel dated 19.11.2014 (available at http://www.alternative-enerqy- tutorials.com/solar-power/photovoltaics.html). Since the method of electrical connection of individual photovoltaic cells in the module does not have a significant influence on the performance or efficiency of this module, and series connection requires less material and occupies less space, it is currently generally considered to be more advantageous.
• the number of photovoltaic cells within a photovoltaic module and the resulting size of the photovoltaic module is usually determined by the location where the photovoltaic module is installed and its dispositions.
• photovoltaic modules are usually mounted on the roofs of buildings or as autonomous assemblies for photovoltaic power plants on wide open spaces.
• photovoltaic modules assembled in this manner have numerous disadvantages.
• the main disadvantage is the fact that due to their structure and spatial arrangement, they are substantially able to utilize only direct sunlight which falls on them in case of clear sky and therefore it is necessary to install them at certain angles and orient them especially to the south.
• Their disadvantage is that they are not able to trap and utilize scattered and reflected solar radiation, which makes up most of the solar radiation even with a small degree of cloud cover.
• Another disadvantage of these photovoltaic modules is the considerable fluctuation of the electrical power supplied by them, depending not only on the current level of cloud cover, but also on the temperature and season, which causes problems with the stability of the electrical distribution network.
• photovoltaic cells there are also other types of photovoltaic cells, such as thin-film solar cells based on amorphous silicon or on chalcogenide compounds (CulnSe, CulnSeGa, CdTe etc.), which, due to their physical nature, achieve lower efficiencies (and thus also the amount of energy produced) than conventional silicon-based photovoltaic cells.
• these types of photovoltaic cells also have the shape of a square plate with dimensions of approximately 100 x 100 mm to approximately 150 x 150 mm.
• the photovoltaic modules overheat, which further reduces the potential energy yield.
• the concentrators e.g., in the form of mirrors, take up considerable space and increase investment costs, and can therefore be only used to a very limited extent.
• the object of the invention is therefore to provide the spatial structure of a concentrator of solar radiation or of a photovoltaic module and a photovoltaic module equipped with this spatial structure.
• the object of the invention is achieved by the spatial structure of a concentrator of solar radiation or of a photovoltaic module, whose principle consists in that it contains a base body which is provided with at least one pair of pyramid or cone-shaped concentration projections, wherein the axes of these concentration projections form together an angle of 40° to 90°, preferably 45° to 65°.
• the axes of the pair of concentration projections lie in one common plane.
• the apexes of the pair of concentration projections, or the adjacent side walls of the concentration projections preferably lie in one plane.
• the concentration projections are preferably formed by a pyramid or cone, optionally truncated, with an inclination angle of 20° to 55°, preferably 23° to 48°.
• Concentration projections whose axes form an angle of 40° to 90° are in contact with each other through their bases, or a transition surface is created between their bases.
• at least one additional concentration projection in the shape of a pyramid, cone or prism is arranged on this transition surface.
• the spatial structure according to the invention is made of an optically transparent material.
• the spatial structure according to the invention is provided on its surface with at least one photovoltaic cell.
• the object of the invention is also achieved by a photovoltaic module containing at least one photovoltaic cell and a concentrator of solar radiation assigned to the photovoltaic cell, the concentrator of solar radiation being formed by the spatial structure made of an optically transparent material according to the invention.
• Fig. 1a schematically represents typical solar photon paths for clear to partly cloudy conditions
• Fig. 1 b shows typical solar photon paths for semi-clear to cloudy conditions
• Fig. 1 c shows typical solar photon paths for cloudy to overcast conditions
• Fig. 1 d shows combinations of different paths of photons of solar radiation in real conditions.
• Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-section of a first basic variant of the concentrator of solar radiation with the spatial structure according to the invention
• Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of a second basic variant of the concentrator of solar radiation with the spatial structure according to the invention
• Figs. 3a to 3e show crosssections of other variants of the concentrator of solar radiation with the spatial structure according to Fig.
• Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a third basic variant of the concentrator of solar radiation with the spatial structure according to the invention.
• Fig. 5 shows a schematic cross-section of a variant of the solar radiation concentrator according to Fig. 3b with a different structure of the concentration projections.
• Fig. 6 shows a schematic cross-section of a fourth variant of the solar radiation concentrator with the spatial structure according to the invention,
• Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of a fifth variant of the solar radiation concentrator with the spatial structure according to the invention,
• Figs. 7a and 7b show cross-sections of other variants of the concentrator according to Fig. 7, Fig.
• FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of a sixth variant of the solar radiation concentrator with the spatial structure according to the invention
• Fig. 9 shows a cross-section of a seventh variant of the solar radiation concentrator with the spatial structure according to the invention
• Fig. 10 is a cross-section of an eighth variant of a solar radiation concentrator with the spatial structure according to the invention
• Fig. 11 shows a cross-section of a photovoltaic module provided with the solar radiation concentrator with the spatial structure according to the invention.
• Fig. 12 schematically represents a cross-section of a photovoltaic module with the spatial structure according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 b which schematically shows typical cones b of the paths of photons of solar radiation for the case of small cloudy sky (i.e., the fraction of the sky covered with clouds is approximately 3/8) to half cloudy sky (i.e., the fraction of the sky covered with clouds is approximately 4/8), which, due to scattering when passing through clouds, usually have an apex angle of approximately 40°, and Fig.
• 1 c which schematically represents typical cones c of the paths of solar radiation photons for the case of cloudy sky (i.e., the fraction of the sky covered with clouds is approximately 5/8) to an overcast sky (i.e., the fraction of the sky covered with clouds is 8/8), which, due to a larger degree of scattering when passing through clouds, typically have an apex angle of approximately 60°.
• the spatial structure 1_ of the concentrator of solar radiation or of the photovoltaic module according to the invention corresponds to this theory and is adapted by its shape to capture and, if necessary, direct the maximum possible number of paths of photons of solar radiation in a suitable manner, with any cloud covering of the sky.
• each of the variants of this structure 1. described below can be used either alone or, more preferably, in combination with the same or similar structures as part of a larger unit within which the individual structures 1 can be arranged in a different spatial arrangement - e.g., underneath and/or next to each other.
• the spatial structure 1_ contains a base body 2 - in the basic variant of embodiment shown in Fig. 2, e.g., with a cross section in the shape of an isosceles triangle with an inclination angle [3 of 40° to 85°, preferably 60° to 85°.
• the base body 2 is made of an optically transparent material, such as glass, plastics etc.; in the case of a photovoltaic module it may be made of essentially any material.
• This base body 2 is provided on its two surfaces, which are preferably oriented upwards, with at least one pair of concentration projections 3, 4, or with at least two parallel rows of side-to-side concentration projections 3, 4, wherein the concentration projections 3, 4 of the respective pair or row of concentration projections 3, 4 are arranged on another surface of the base body 2.
• the concentration projections 3, 4 are made of optically transparent material.
• the concentration projections 3, 4 have the shape of a pyramid, wherein their bases 30, 40 can generally have the shape of an N-gon, including a star-shaped, preferably regular N-gon, where N is equal to 3 to infinity, preferably especially 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, most preferably 4.
• the base 30, 40 of the respective concentration projection 3, 4 is formed by a circle, oval or another continuous shape and the respective concentration projection 3, 4 is thus formed by a cone.
• the inclination angle 03, Q4 of the pyramid/cone of the concentration projections 3, 4, i.e. , the angle between the base 30, 40 of these projections 3, 4 and their walls 31_, 41 is 20° to 55°, preferably 23° to 48°.
• the concentration projections 3, 4 forming a pair are oriented with their apexes 32, 42 away from each other, wherein the axes 33, 43, passing through their apexes 32, 42 and the geometric centres of their bases 30, 40 form an angle 034 of 40° to 90°, preferably 45° to 65°.
• these axes 33, 43 lie in one plane, but this is not a necessary condition.
• the axes 33, 43 of the concentration projections 3, 4 arranged on the same surface of the base body 2 of the concentrator!, e g-> in a row next to each other, are preferably parallel with each other.
• Fig. 3 shows a second basic variant of the spatial structure 1. according to the invention, in which the base body 2 has a cross-section in the shape of an irregular convex pentagon.
• the basic body 2 of this structure 1. can have any other cross-section - see, e.g., Figs. 3 to 3e, wherein it is advantageous if the concentration projections 3, 4 are arranged on adjacent surfaces of the base body 2, which are turned away from each other, as is the case in the variants of embodiment shown in Figs. 2 to 12.
• its base body 2 can be adapted by its shape for further concentration of solar radiation and/or for a suitable spatial combination of this structure 1_ with other identical or different structures.
• a modification is, e.g., a uniform or non-uniform bevelling of at least one surface of the base body 2 of the structure 1_- see, e.g., Fig.
• the angle 021 between the base 20 of the base body 2 and its side walls 21 may range, e.g., from 50° to 130°, preferably from 60° to 120°.
• the bevelling of the side walls 21 of the base body 2 is uniform and is made along the entire height of its side walls 21 ; in other variants of embodiment, however, it may not be uniform and/or it may not be made along the entire height of the side walls/wall 21 - see, e.g., Fig. 3b, which shows a variant in which the opposing side walls 21 are bevelled only along a part of their height, and Fig. 3c, which shows a variant in which only one side wall 21 is bevelled along a part of its height, or Fig. 3d, which shows a variant in which both opposing side walls are bevelled along their height 21 , wherein they are parallel with each other.
• the side walls 21 of the base body can be intersecting.
• the base body 2 of the structure 1. can have essentially any shape and/or dimensions unlimited by the location, size or number of the concentration projections 3, 4 - see, e.g., Fig. 3e, which shows a variant of embodiment, in which the width of the base body 2 in the place below the concentration projections 3, 4 is greater than in the place with the concentration projections 3, 4, wherein a step transition is formed between these two parts of the base body.
• the base body may contain several parts of different shapes and/or sizes, and the transitions between them may be stepwise and/or smooth.
• the apexes 32, 42 of all the concentration projections 3, 4 and possibly also their adjacent side walls 31 , 41 lie in a common plane v - see, e.g., Fig. 4. This allows them, for example, to be covered with a suitable material - e.g., for their mechanical protection and/or for further concentration of solar radiation.
• the individual concentration projections 3, 4 may be terminated in all variants of the concentrator 1. either by a sharp tip, as in the variants of embodiment shown in Figs. 2 to 12, or by a rounding or a surface (where the concentrator projections 3, 4 are formed by a conical pyramid or cone).
• At least one of the concentration projections 3, 4 may be formed along its height by two or more adjacent sections which differ from each other by the inclination angle 03, 04 or 030, 040 - see, e.g., Fig. 5.
• all the concentration projections 3, 4 of the concentrator 1. are mutually identical, but it is possible to combine concentration projections 3, 4 of different shapes and/or sizes within one spatial structure.
• a suitable transition surface 7 of any shape can be formed between them.
• At least one additional concentration projection 71 of the shape described above, or at least one row of such additional concentration projections 71 can be arranged on this transition surface 7 - see, for example, the variant of the concentrator 1. shown in Fig. 8.
• the transition surface 7 can be arbitrarily shaped - e.g.
• rounded, curved, oblique, or at least one depression or at least one row of side- by-side depressions can be created in it, the shape of which corresponds, for example, to the shape of an inverse concentration protrusion 3, 4, optionally at least one additional concentration projection 71 , preferably, e.g., an additional concentration projection 71 in the shape of a pyramid or truncated pyramid with a rectangular base, or in the shape of a triangular prism (preferably with bevelled faces), etc., can be created in in the transition surface 7.
• the spatial structure 1. serves as a concentrator of solar radiation
• its shape ensures that solar radiation, whether direct, scattered or reflected, incident on any part of its surface will always be directed at a suitable angle towards the surface of the photovoltaic cel l/cells or module/modules below the concentration projections ⁇ , 4.
• the spatial structure 1_ according to the invention serves as a carrier for the photovoltaic cell/cells 5
• its shape ensures that solar radiation, whether direct, scattered or reflected, always hits the photovoltaic cell/cells at a suitable angle to maximize its use.
• the base 20 of the base body 2 of the concentrator 1_ designed to be oriented towards the photovoltaic cell 5 or module is planar, or it can be spatially shaped at least in part of its surface - preferably continuously, e.g., convex or concave - as indicated in Fig. 2 in dotted lines, or it can be shaped otherwise.
• Such shaping of the base 20 helps to direct the solar radiation even more optimally towards the photovoltaic cell 5 or module.
• the radius R of this curvature (preferably greater than the width S of the base 20) and its positioning is then determined by the specific dimensions of the concentrator 1_and the conditions at the given location.
• the spatial structure 1. can be combined with the same or different structures to form substantially any spatial structures - symmetrical or asymmetrical - within which these structures 1. can be arranged, e.g., in an area next to each other, below each other, wherein a separate photovoltaic cell 5 is assigned to each of them - see, e.g., Fig. 6 or 7b, or they can be combined to form more complex spatial structures with a larger number of the same or similar structures 1. or separate concentration projections 3, 4, or rows of concentration projections 3, 4 - see, e.g., Figs. 7, 7a and 7b.
• FIG. 7 schematically represents a triangular-shaped structure which is provided at its apex with the above-described structure 1_ in the variant of embodiment according to Fig. 3, and on whose arms are arranged other concentration projections 3, 4 or rows of concentration projections 3.
• Fig. 7a shows a conceptually similar structure, which is provided at its apex with the above-described structure 1_ in the variant according to Fig. 3a and is provided with a cooling liquid conduit 9 for active cooling.
• the photovoltaic cells 5 are always assigned to several concentration projections 3, 4 arranged next to each other. However, this is not a condition.
• Fig. 7b shows an analogous structure as in Fig.
• these structures can be supplemented with a protective plate or sheath 6 made of an optically transparent material, which provides them with mechanical protection and/or concentrates or directs solar radiation - see, e.g., Fig. 6.
• a protective plate or sheath 6 made of an optically transparent material, which provides them with mechanical protection and/or concentrates or directs solar radiation - see, e.g., Fig. 6.
• one common photovoltaic cell/module 5 can be assigned to all concentration projections 3, 4, or a structure containing several photovoltaic cells/modules 5 can be assigned to them.
• these structures 1. can be supplemented with an active cooling system (using a suitable cooling liquid - see, e.g., Fig. 7a) and/or a passive cooling system (using heat conductive materials, e.g., in the form of metal elements - strips, plates, etc. arranged below the photovoltaic cell/cells 5).
• Fig. 8 shows the spatial structure 1. according to the invention, wherein the base body 2 of this structure 1. has a cross-section in the shape of an irregular hexagonal prism on whose two oblique surfaces oriented upwards are arranged concentration projections 3, 4, wherein the axes 33, 43 which pass through their apexes 32, 42 and through the geometric centres of their bases 30, 40 together form an angle 034 of 40° to 90°, preferably 45° to 65°, or rows of concentration projections 3, 4, wherein at least one additional concentration projection 71 , or at least one row of additional concentration projections 71 is arranged on the transition surface 7 between these oblique surfaces.
• Fig. 9 shows a spatial structure 1. in which the concentration projection 3, 4 is formed by a spatially more complex structure according to PV 2020-617, which is composed of two truncated pyramids/cones 300, 400 and 310, 410 stacked on top of each other, wherein on the upper base of at least one of them are arranged partial concentration projections 301 , 401 , 311 , 411 of any of the above-described embodiment.
• the axes 33, 43 of at least one pair of such concentration projections 3, 4 form an angle 034 of 40° to 90°, preferably 45° to 65°.
• the same angle is also formed by the axes 3010, 4010 of at least some partial concentration projections 301 , 401 , 311 , 411 .
• Fig. 10 shows the spatial structure 1. according to the invention, which is based on the structure 1. shown in Fig. 8, wherein the base body 2 of this concentrator 1. is provided in the centre of its upper part with an extension 8 in the shape of a truncated pyramid.
• the upper base 80 of the extension 8 can be arbitrarily shaped - e.g., rounded, bent, oblique, or, e.g., at least one depression or at least one row of adjacent depressions can be formed in it, wherein the shape of this depression/these depressions corresponds, e.g., to the shape of an inverse concentration projection 3, 4, optionally at least one auxiliary concentration projection 81 can be arranged on the upper base 80, preferably, e.g., in the shape of a pyramid, a cone, or a truncated pyramid with a rectangular base, or in the shape of a triangular prism (preferably with bevelled faces), etc.
• a triangular prism preferably with bevelled faces
• At least two opposing edges of the base 20 of the base body 2 of the concentrator 1 are bevelled, which further aids the concentration of solar radiation, especially in cases when the spatial structure 1_ serves as a concentrator of solar radiation and a photovoltaic cell 5 or a photovoltaic module having a surface area smaller than the surface area of the base 20 of the base body 2 of the concentrator 1. is arranged underneath.
• Fig. 11 shows a cross-section of a photovoltaic module provided with the concentrator of solar radiation with the spatial structure 1_ according to the invention shown in Fig. 10, below which is arranged at least one photovoltaic cell 5 whose surface area is smaller than the surface area of the base 20 of the base body 2 of the concentrator 1_.
• the spatial structure 1_ according to the invention is preferably formed as a monolith.
• the base body 2 of the spatial structure 1. is preferably formed by a prism with a corresponding cross-sectional shape; however, in other variants, it may be formed by a body whose base 20 may have generally the shape of an N-gon, including a star-shaped, preferably a regular N- gon, where N is equal to 3 to infinity, preferably especially 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, most preferably 4. If N is equal to infinity, the base 20 is formed by a circle, oval or other continuous figure.
• the spatial structure 1_ serves either as a carrier for the photovoltaic cell/cells 5 which are arranged on its outer surface, wherein in combination with the cell/cells 5 it constitutes a spatially shaped photovoltaic module - see Fig. 12, which shows a variant of the photovoltaic module in which photovoltaic cells 5 are arranged on the surface of the structure 1 in the embodiment according to Fig. 7b, or it is made of an optically transparent material, such as glass, transparent plastics, etc., and serves as a concentrator of solar radiation directing solar radiation onto the photovoltaic cell/module 5 arranged underneath.
• the spatial structure 1. serves as a carrier of the photovoltaic cell 5
• the individual layers of the material forming the photovoltaic cell 5, or the matrix of its cathode, can be applied directly to its surface.

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• 2021
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