Optimization of ground coverage of terrestrial solar array system

Abstract

A concentrator photovoltaic solar cell array for terrestrial use for generating electrical power from solar radiation including a central support which is rotatable about its central longitudinal axis, a support frame carried by, and rotatable with respect to, the central support about an axis orthogonal to said central longitudinal axis, and a solar array mounted on the support frame. The solar cell array includes a plurality of Fresnel concentrator lenses and multijunction III-V compound semiconductor solar cells each producing in excess of 10 watts of DC power. An actuator is provided for rotating the central support and the support frame so that the solar cell array is maintained substantially orthogonal to the rays of the sun as the sun traverses the sky.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 500,053 filed Aug. 7, 2006, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ entitled Solar Cell Receiver having an Insulated bypass Diode filed simultaneously herewith by the common assignee.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to a terrestrial solar power system for the conversion of sunlight into electrical energy, and, more particularly to a solar cell array using IV-V compound semiconductor solar cells for unitary movement to track the sun.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Commercially available silicon solar cells for terrestrial solar power application have efficiencies ranging from 8% to 15%. Compound semiconductor solar cells, based on III-V compounds, have 28% efficiency in normal operating conditions. Moreover, it is well known that concentrating solar energy onto a III-V compound semi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an improved solar cell array for terrestrial power applications using III-V compound semiconductor multifunction solar cells. The invention includes a central support mountable on the ground, a support frame carried by the central support, and a solar cell array mounted on the support frame. The solar cell array includes a plurality of solar cell subarrays each containing a single Fresnel lens for concentrating the incoming sunlight onto the solar cell. The support frame is rotatable to maintain the solar cell array substantially orthogonal to the rays from the sun. The invention also includes a solar tracker for maximizing the number of cells that can be implemented over a given ground area. The invention provides a solar cell array system that produces 25 kW of peak DC power for terrestrial power applications."

Problems solved by technology

Although III-V compound semiconductor solar cells have been widely used in satellite applications, in which their power-to-weight efficiencies are more important than cost-per-watt considerations in selecting such devices, such solar cells have not yet been designed for optimum coverage of the solar spectrum and configured or optimized for use in solar tracking terrestrial systems, nor have existing commercial terrestrial solar power systems been configured and optimized to utilize compound semiconductor solar cells.

Images