Microsystem enabled photovoltaic modules and systems
| DWPI Title: Microsystem enabled photovoltaic (MEPV) module for PV solar energy systems, has motion processor that is electrically coupled to translation stage to control motion of translatable optic layer relative to fixed optic layer |
| Abstract: A microsystem enabled photovoltaic (MEPV) module including: an absorber layer; a fixed optic layer coupled to the absorber layer; a translatable optic layer; a translation stage coupled between the fixed and translatable optic layers; and a motion processor electrically coupled to the translation stage to controls motion of the translatable optic layer relative to the fixed optic layer. The absorber layer includes an array of photovoltaic (PV) elements. The fixed optic layer includes an array of quasi-collimating (QC) micro-optical elements designed and arranged to couple incident radiation from an intermediate image formed by the translatable optic layer into one of the PV elements such that it is quasi-collimated. The translatable optic layer includes an array of focusing micro-optical elements corresponding to the QC micro-optical element array. Each focusing micro-optical element is designed to produce a quasi-telecentric intermediate image from substantially collimated radiation incident within a predetermined field of view. |
| Use: Microsystem enabled photovoltaic (MEPV) module for PV solar energy system (claimed). |
| Advantage: The dimensions of the individual micro-optical elements are reduced to reduce the overall weight of the exemplary PV solar energy system. The PV elements are able to efficiently absorb incident radiation, the micro-optical elements increase the intensity of the incident radiation within the PV elements. The individual PV elements have the combined advantages of improved thermal management and increased efficiency. Because the resulting quasi-collimated beams formed by the exemplary micro-optical elements are desirably coupled into absorption layer at approximately normal incidence, the design significantly simplifies the design and significantly improves the efficiency of wide bandwidth anti reflection (AR) coating. The design is coupled with the chromatic aberration of micro-optical element, allows each successive PV cell to efficiently absorb incident radiation within its absorption band, while using a minimum of the PV cell absorber material. The Keplerian telescope design provides the resulting PV module with a passive solar tracking method that efficiently accepts incident radiation over a predetermined range of angles. |
| Novelty: The microsystem has a translatable optic layer that includes an array of spaced apart focusing micro-optical elements. Each focusing micro-optical element is aligned to a respective one of the array of quasi-collimating (QC) micro-optical elements and is designed to produce the quasi-telecentric intermediate image. A translation stage (210) is coupled between the fixed optic layer and translatable optic layer. A motion processor is electrically coupled to the translation stage to control motion of the translatable optic layer relative to the fixed optic layer. |
| Filed: 10/28/2010 |
| Application Number: US2010914441A |
| Tech ID: SD 11515.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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