Solar-To-Electricity Conversion Sub-Module
The invention addresses the area utilization and capital efficiency of systems for converting solar energy into electricity. A solid-state solar submodule includes photovoltaic and thermoelectric or thermionic cells. The submodule can be implemented in various configurations and by a solar insolation flux collection and concentration method to improve the area utilization and solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency. A thermal expansion matched multilayer board is also used to withstand ultra high concentration of solar insolation flux.
1 . A solar-to-electricity conversion submodule comprising:
a. a photon-to-electricity conversion device;
b. a heat sink/pipe coupled to said photon-to-electricity conversion device;
c. a multi-layer board having a light cavity for receiving or transmitting radiation flux associated with said photon-to-electricity conversion device;
d. one more conductive leads coupled to said photon-to-electricity conversion device for providing an electrical output in response to radiation flux impinging on said photon-to-electricity conversion device;
wherein said photon-to-electricity conversion device, heat sink/pipe and conductive leads are located on and housed by said multi-layer board.
2 . The submodule of claim 1 wherein said photon-to-electricity device is based on a single junction cell adapted to convert only a first portion of an insolation flux spectrum into electrical energy based on a first band gap energy.
3 . The submodule of claim 2 , wherein said module is further adapted to be stacked into a cascade with one or more second modules having one or more photon-to-electricity devices based on single junction cells adapted to convert a second different portion of said insolation flux spectrum into electrical energy based on one or more second band gap energies.
4 . The submodule of claim 3 , wherein said cascade is arranged in a linear arrangement such that said insolation flux travels in a straight line.
5 . The submodule of claim 3 , wherein said cascade is arranged in an offset arrangement such that said insolation flux is refracted and reflected between different photon-electricity devices as it travels.
6 . The submodule of claim 1 wherein said multi-layer board is further adapted to mount a thermionic or thermoelectric device in lieu of said photon-to-electricity device.
7 . The submodule of claim 1 wherein said multi-layer board is further adapted to mount a thermionic or thermoelectric device in addition to said photon-to-electricity device.
8 . The submodule of claim 1 wherein said multi-layer board is comprised of a co-fired ceramic.
9 . The submodule of claim 1 wherein said multi-layer board includes conducting thermal vias.
10 . The submodule of claim 1 wherein said multi-layer board includes embedded thermal diodes.
11 . The submodule of claim 1 wherein said multi-layer board includes embedded bypass and/or blocking diodes.
12 . The submodule of claim 1 wherein said multi-layer board includes embedded sensors and related electronic circuitry.
13 . The submodule of claim 1 wherein said photon-to-electricity device includes single layer or multilayers of absorptive or anti-reflection costings for raising the absorption of a selective spectrum of the radiation flux that is converted into electricity.
14 . The submodule of claim 1 wherein said photon-to-electricity device includes a reflection coating for reflecting a remaining radiation flux that is not converted into electricity.
15 . The submodule of claim 1 wherein said multi-layer board is further adapted to couple to a light tube, a light guide or light pipe to receive said radiation flux.
16 . The submodule of claim 1 wherein a plurality of photon-to-electricity devices having the same spectrum conversion capability are arranged within the same plane and in a line to receive said radiation flux in a broad focal line.
17 . The submodule of claim 16 wherein said plurality of photon-to-electricity devices receive said radiation flux through a slit or light cavity mounted on said multi-layer board.
18 . A solar-to-electricity conversion submodule comprising:
a. a photon-to-electricity conversion device adapted to convert insolation flux into electricity;
b. a thermionic and/or thermoelectric device situated adjacent to said photon-to-electricity device and adapted to convert heat energy associated with such photon-to-electricity device into electricity;
c. heat sinks/pipes coupled to said photon-to-electricity conversion device and said thermionic and/or thermoelectric device;
d. a multi-layer board having a light cavity for receiving or transmitting insolation flux;
e. an electrical combiner circuit coupled to both said photon-to-electricity conversion device and said thermionic and/or thermoelectric device and adapted to generate an electrical output in response to said insolation flux;
wherein said photon-to-electricity conversion device, thermionic and/or thermoelectric device, heat sink/pipe and electrical combiner circuit are located on and housed by or attached to said multi-layer board.
19 . The submodule of claim 1 wherein a position of said thermionic and/or thermoelectric device can be automatically adjusted.
20 . The submodule of claim 1 wherein said multi-layer board has a thermal expansion characteristic matching said photon to electricity conversion device.
21 . A solar-to-electricity conversion submodule comprising:
a. at least one photon-to-electricity conversion device having a single junction cell for converting only a first portion of an incident radiation spectrum into electricity;
b. a heat sink/pipe coupled to said photon-to-electricity conversion device;
c. a multi-layer board having a light cavity for receiving or transmitting radiation flux associated with said photon-to-electricity conversion device;
wherein said multi-layer board is adapted to have a thermal expansion characteristic that substantially matches said photon-to-electricity conversion device;
d. one more conductive leads coupled to said photon-to-electricity conversion device for providing an electrical output in response to radiation flux impinging on said photon-to-electricity conversion device;
wherein said photon-to-electricity conversion device, heat sink/pipe and conductive leads are located on and housed by or attached to said multi-layer board.