Granted Patent B2

US 8,466,582 · App. 13/310,249 · Granted Jun 18, 2013

Abstract

Claims (28)

1. An apparatus for applying an electric field to a photovoltaic element, comprising:

at least one photovoltaic (PV) cell having a P-N junction;

a voltage supply for (i) converting a first voltage to an e-field voltage, the first voltage resulting from the at least one PV cell, and (ii) coupling the e-field voltage directly to an electrode that is positioned proximate the P-N junction of the at least one PV cell to create an electric field extending across the P-N junction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first voltage is generated by the at least one PV cell.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first voltage is generated by a power converter coupled to the at least one PV cell for converting a first power from the at least one PV cell to a second power.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first voltage is a DC voltage.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first voltage is an AC voltage.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the power converter comprises the voltage supply.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second at least one PV cell having a second P-N junction and a second electrode coupled proximate the second P-N junction; and

a second voltage supply for (i) converting a second locally generated voltage to a second e-field voltage, the second locally generated voltage resulting from the second at least one PV cell, and (ii) coupling the second e-field voltage to the second at least one PV cell to create a second electric field extending across the second P-N junction, wherein the at least one PV cell and the second at least one PV cell are contained within a single PV module.

8. A method for applying an electric field to a photovoltaic element, comprising:

generating an e-field voltage from a first voltage resulting from at least one photovoltaic (PV) cell, wherein the at least one PV cell has a P-N junction; and

coupling the e-field voltage directly to an electrode positioned proximate the P-N junction of the at least one PV cell to create an electric field extending across the P-N junction.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising varying the e-field voltage based on at least one operating condition.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first voltage is generated by the at least one PV cell.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first voltage is generated by a power converter coupled to the at least one PV cell for converting a first power from the at least one PV cell to a second power.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first voltage is a DC voltage.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first voltage is an AC voltage.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

generating a second e-field voltage from a second locally generated voltage, the second locally generated voltage resulting from a second at least one photovoltaic (PV) cell having a second P-N junction; and

coupling the second e-field voltage to the second at least one PV cell to create a second electric field extending across the second P-N junction, wherein the at least one PV cell and the second at least one PV cell are contained within a single PV module.

15. A system for applying an electric field to a photovoltaic element, comprising:

at least one photovoltaic (PV) cell having a P-N junction;

a power converter, coupled to the at least one PV cell, for converting a first power from the at least one PV cell to a second power; and

a voltage supply for (i) converting a first voltage to an e-field voltage, the first voltage resulting from the at least one PV cell, and (ii) coupling the e-field voltage directly to an electrode positioned proximate the P-N junction of the at least one PV cell to create an electric field extending across the P-N junction.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first voltage is generated by the at least one PV cell.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first voltage is generated by the power converter.

Assignments (6)