GB2384113A - Hybrid photovoltaic module - Google Patents

Abstract

A hybrid photovoltaic, temperature differential power generation module 10 includes a heat sink 16 , a thermocouple 14 thermally connected to the heat sink, and a photovoltaic device 11 connected to the thermocouple. The hybrid device may increase efficiency or decrease surface area requirements by providing a stacked arrangement. The module (10) may include ceramic plates 13, 15 and an aluminium temperature diffuser 12.

Description

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HYBRID PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE Background of the Invention The following invention relates to the conversion of solar energy into useful electrical energy.

The operating principles of the solar photovoltaic cell are widely known and understood. Continuous research and development into new types, new technologies and new materials will create more efficient devices delivering higher power under a wider range of operating temperatures.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to mount a photovoltaic device on a temperature differential voltage converting device to combine the power generating capabilities of the two devices so as to exploit the efficiencies of the respective devices within their respective temperature ranges and to provide an overall structure useful over a broad temperature range.

Disclosure of the Invention There is disclosed herein a hybrid photovoltaic, temperature differential power generation module

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comprising: a heat sink, a thermocouple thermally connected to the heat sink, and a photovoltaic device connected to the thermocouple.

Preferably the heat sinks formed of aluminium.

Preferably there is located between the heat sink and the thermocouple a ceramic plate.

Preferably there is located between the thermocouple and the photovoltaic device another ceramic plate.

Preferably the other ceramic plate is separated from the photovoltaic device by a temperature diffuser.

Preferably the temperature diffuser is formed of aluminium.

Preferably said thermocouple is one of many thermocouples in an array.

Preferably the heat sink is cooled by a flow of fluid.

Preferably the fluid is water or air.

In use, the hybrid device combines the power generating

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capabilities of a photovoltaic device and thermoelectric device thereby increasing efficiency. This efficiency may be considered as the amount of power generated per unit area, the cost per watt and a usable temperature range.

Brief Description of the Drawing A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to Fig. 1 which is a schematic cross-sectional elevational view of a hybrid photovoltaic module.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the accompanying figure there is schematically depicted a hybrid device 10. Device 10 includes a photovoltaic device 11 mounted upon an aluminium temperature diffuser 12. Temperature diffuser 12 is mounted upon a ceramic plate 13. Ceramic plate 13 is mounted upon a thermocouple array 4 which might be of the type described in my pending British patent application number 0125447.3 entitled to this is"Electrical Power Generation Device". That is, the thermocouple array 14 might include an array of banks of individual thermocouple elements.

The thermocouple array 14 is mounted upon a ceramic plate

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15, which is in turn mounted upon and aluminium heat sink 16.

The aluminium heat sink 16 can dissipate heat in the direction indicated by Arrow A. This might be by way of forced air or convection cooling with a fluid such as air or water or some other form of coolant fluid.

The photovoltaic device 10 absorbs radiant energy from the heat source such as the sun. The aluminium diffuser 12 conducts heat from the photovoltaic device to the surrounding played 13 which forms the hot side of the thermocouple array 14. The ceramic plate 15 forming the cold side of the thermocouple array 14 conducts heat from the array 14 to the aluminium heat sink 16. The heat sink 16 might have a plurality of fins, or perhaps just a flat surface from which remaining heat is conducted or convected away.

The photovoltaic device 10 would have extending from it a pair of electrical conductors for transmission of electric current. The thermocouple array 14 would also have a pair of electrical conductors extending from it for transmission of electric current. The respective conductive pairs might be interconnected with one another or connected to separate destinations such as batteries, capacitors or other storage devices for example.

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The hybrid device combines the power generating capabilities of the photovoltaic device 10 and the thermoelectric device 13,14 and 15.

The two physical components are stacked as shown and therefore occupy the same projected surface area.

Therefore, the combined outputs of both elements are generated in the same projected area, saving about 50% of physical area.

Said another way, the electrical output per unit area is higher than that which would be achieved in a non-stacked arrangement.

Also, the relatively low thermal resistance of the thermoelectric device facilitates the cooling of the solar cell 10, thereby extending temperature operating range of the photoelectric section.

The elevated temperature caused by the solar heating of this cell is diffused evenly by the temperature diffuser 12 and and conducted through the thermocouple array 14 and the cold side ceramic late 15 into the general device heat sink 16. This heat sink is cooled as described above.

The passing of heat through the thermoelectric device and resulting temperature gradient generates a temperature

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differential that generates a thermoelectric output voltage.

The thermoelectric output power and the photovoltaic output power can be used separately or may be connected in series or parallel to create a suitable output voltage/current configuration.

The photoelectric material might be glued, vacuum deposited or deposited by other means on the surface of the thermoelectric device.

The heat sink and if users can be made of any sufficiently thermally conductive material having the required mechanical properties.

The hot and cold plates can be dimensioned from metals with the required electrical conductivity and insulating pattern to facilitate the thermal parallel connection combined with the electrical serial connection of the thermocouple is, provided that the material is also sufficiently rigid and stable to support a large number of thermocouples within the required tolerances over the whole operational temperature range.

Claims (9)

1. Claims: 1. A hybrid photovoltaic, temperature differential power generation module comprising: a heat sink, a thermocouple thermally connected to the heat sink, and a photovoltaic device connected to the thermocouple.
2. 2. The module of Claim 1 wherein the heat sink is formed of aluminium.
3. 3. The module of Claim 1 wherein there is located between the heat sink and the thermocouple a ceramic plate.
4. 4. The module of Claim 1 wherein there is located between the thermocouple and the photovoltaic device another ceramic plate.
5. 5. The module of Claim 4 wherein the other ceramic plate is separated from the photovoltaic device by a temperature diffuser.
6. 6. The module of Claim 5 wherein the temperature diffuser is formed of aluminium.
7. 7. The module of Claim 1 wherein said thermocouple is

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   one of many thermocouples in an array.
8. 8. The module of Claim 1 wherein the heat sink is cooled by a flow of fluid.
9. 9. The module of Claim 8 wherein the fluid is water or air.