INTEGRATED CONCENTRATOR PHOTOVOLTAICS AND WATER HEATER
An energy device includes a solar concentrator that concentrates at least 20 suns on a predetermined spot; a solar cell positioned on the predetermined spot to receive concentrated solar energy from the solar concentrator; and a water heater pipe thermally coupled to the solar cell to remove heat from the solar cell.
1 . An energy device, comprising:
a. a solar concentrator that concentrates at least 20 suns on a predetermined spot;
b. a solar cell positioned on the predetermined spot to receive concentrated solar energy from the solar concentrator; and
c. a water heater pipe thermally coupled to the solar cell to remove heat from the solar cell.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the solar concentrator heats the water heater pipe.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the solar concentrator comprises one of: a mirror, a lens, a mirror-lens combination.
4 . The device of claim 1 , comprising an inverter to generate AC power to supply to an electricity grid and a water pump to distribute heated water to a building.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the solar cell comprises one of: a quadruple junction solar cell, a quintuple junction solar cell.
6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the AC voltage booster is one of: a step-up transformer, a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) voltage booster.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the solar concentrator comprises a first curved reflector adapted to reflect light to a second curved reflector and wherein the second curved reflector concentrates sun light on the solar cell.
8 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising in one or more capacitors for storing a stepped-up voltage before applying the stepped-up voltage to a battery.
9 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a frequency shifter to change a frequency of the AC voltage to avoid radio frequency interference.
10 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a DC regulator coupled between the voltage booster and the battery.
11 . A method for providing renewable energy, comprising:
a. concentrating sun light onto a photovoltaic (PV) cell;
b. receiving a direct current (DC) input voltage from the cell;
c. converting the direct current input voltage into an alternating current (AC) voltage;
d. stepping-up the AC input voltage; and
e. applying the stepped-up voltage to an energy storage device.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising stepping-up the input voltage using pulse-width-modulation (PWM).
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising generating AC power from the battery.
14 . The method of claim 11 , comprising cooling the PV cell by heating up a water heater pipe.
15 . The method of claim 11 , comprising storing the stepped-up voltage in one or more capacitors before applying the stepped-up voltage to the battery.
16 . The method of claim 11 , comprising providing a second focal position for infrared wavelength and position an infrared solar cell at the second focal position.
17 . The method of claim 11 , comprising position the solar cell at first and second positions, wherein the second position is vertically offset from the first position.
18 . The method of claim 11 , comprising providing first and second mirrors positioned in a Cassegrain configuration.
19 . The method of claim 11 , comprising providing Fresnel lens to concentrate sun light onto the PV cell.
20 . The method of claim 19 , comprising providing a second lens between the Fresnel lens and the PV cell.