Hybrid receiver for concentrated photovoltaic-thermal power systems, and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12562682-B2
Application number	US-202418745582-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2024
Priority date	Jun 14, 2019
Publication date	Feb 24, 2026
Grant date	Feb 24, 2026

Abstract

A method for concentrated photovoltaic-thermal power generation includes converting a first portion of concentrated sunlight into electrical power when the first portion of concentrated sunlight illuminates an array of photovoltaic cells; and thermally coupling heat generated by the photovoltaic cells into a heat transfer plate. The method also includes cooling the heat transfer plate by flowing heat transfer fluid through an internal path of a cooling block in direct thermal contact with the heat transfer plate; and flowing the heat transfer fluid through a helical tube to absorb thermal energy from a second portion of concentrated sunlight illuminating the helical tube.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method for concentrated photovoltaic-thermal power generation, comprising:
converting a first portion of concentrated sunlight into electrical power when the first portion of concentrated sunlight illuminates an array of photovoltaic cells; absorbing heat from the photovoltaic cells with a heat transfer plate; cooling the heat transfer plate by flowing heat transfer fluid through an internal path of a cooling block in direct thermal contact with the heat transfer plate; and subsequently flowing the heat transfer fluid through a helical tube to absorb thermal energy from a second portion of concentrated sunlight illuminating the helical tube.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising reflecting thermal radiation and scattered light from a thermal module onto the helical tube.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said reflecting is performed with a reflective shroud surrounding the helical tube, the cooling block, the heat transfer plate, and the array of photovoltaic cells.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising blocking wind from the helical tube and cooling block with the reflective shroud.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
supplying the heat transfer fluid to the cooling block via an inlet pipe connected to a rear face of the cooling block; receiving the heat transfer fluid from the helical tube with an outlet pipe; and mechanically supporting the helical tube, cooling block, heat transfer plate, and array of photovoltaic cells with the inlet pipe.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising thermally isolating the cooling block from the helical tube with a plurality of thermally insulating spacers.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the array of photovoltaic cells, heat transfer plate, cooling block, and helical tube to adjust a ratio of electrical power generated by the array of photovoltaic cells and thermal power outputted by the heat transfer fluid.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an average temperature of the heat transfer fluid, when exiting the helical tube, is greater than a maximum temperature of the photovoltaic cells.

Assignees

• The Administrators Of The Tulane Educational Fund

Inventors

• Escarra Matthew David
• Artzt Luke
• Ji Yaping
• Codd Daniel
• Barrios Matthew
• Islam Kazi M
• Bar-Or David M
• Failla Jacqueline C
• Davis Claire C
• Woody Maxwell W

Classifications

• H10F77/1248

  having three or more elements, e.g. GaAlAs, InGaAs or InGaAsP · CPC title

• H10F19/906

  characterised by the materials of the structures · CPC title

• H10F10/16

  Photovoltaic cells having only PN heterojunction potential barriers · CPC title

• H10F10/10

  having potential barriers · CPC title

• F24S30/452

  Vertical primary axis · CPC title