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Title: Structure for conversion of solar radiation to electricity and heat
Claims: I claim: 1. A device adapted to produce both electrical energy and thermal energy from sunlight, comprising a radiation collection and concentration medium in the form of a first elongated light conducting tubular inner member having (a) a continuous wall defining an elongated passage and (b) a first, open end, said medium containing at least one luminescent species capable of emitting luminescent radiation upon excitation with solar radiation, said medium being totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, means closing the second end of the elongated passage of said first member, said first member being curvilinear in any transverse cross-section, a second elongated tubular light conducting outer member having a wall that is closed at one end and surrounds the wall of said first member, means joining the wall of said second member and the wall of the first member adjacent said first, open end of the latter, thereby sealing a thermally insulative space between said first member and said second member, said space being evacuated to a sub-atmospheric pressure, photocell means responsive to said emitted radiation optically coupled to a minor proportion of the exterior surface of said wall of said first member and disposed within said sub-atmospheric space, and means within the elongated passage of said first member for absorbing electromagnetic radiation as thermal energy and for extracting heat from said passage through said first, open end thereof. 2. A device according to claim 1 operatively associated with a mirror to reflect light from the sun into the said first and second tubular members. 3. A device of claim 1 in which the photocell means comprises semiconductor photovoltaic cells substantially aligned lengthwise on said exterior surface and electrically connected in series. 4. A device of claim 1 in which said means for absorbing radiation and extracting heat from said passage of said first elongated tubular member comprises an elongated inner hollow member positioned inside said first elongated tubular member and spaced therefrom in its said elongated passage, the innermost end of said inner hollow member being open, said inner hollow member including a solar selective absorbing surface thereon, a fluid media supply, and means coupling said supply for circulation of fluid media through said elongated passage and said elongated inner hollow member in series flow for extraction of thermal energy therefrom. 5. A device of claim 1 in which said wall of said first elongated tubular member is comprised of a composite in which a relatively thin radiation conducting plastic exterior layer containing a luminescent species is optically coupled to a relatively thick radiation conducting layer. 6. The said solar device of claim 5 in which said relatively thick radiation conducting layer is glass. 7. A photovoltaic solar device comprising a first elongated tubular light conducting member having a continuous wall defining an elongated passage, means closing one end of the passage of said member, a second elongated tubular outer member having a wall that is closed at one end, the inside diametrical dimension of said outer member being greater than the outside dimension of said first elongated member, said outer member also being light conducting, a continuous, uninterrupted solar luminescent thin film layer enveloping the exterior surface of said first-mentioned light conducting member over substantially the length thereof, means joining the wall of the second elongated member and the wall of the first elongated member adjacent the other, open end of the latter, thereby sealing a space between the wall of said first-mentioned member and the wall of said outer member, said space being evacuated to a sub-atmospheric pressure, photocell means optically coupled to said solar luminescent layer on the exterior of the wall of said first elongated member and disposed lengthwise thereof within said sub-atmospheric space, and means within said elongated passage for absorbing electromagnetic radiation as thermal energy and means connected to said elongated passage of said first elongated member adjacent its open end for extracting heat from said elongated passage. 8. A method which comprises (1) passing solar radiation into a luminescent solar collector and concentrator means optically coupled to photovoltaic conversion means and converting a portion of the luminescent radiation produced by said luminescent solar collector and concentrator means directly to electricity, said luminescent solar collector and concentrator means surrounding without contacting an electromagnetic radiation absorber means having a surface that absorbs electromagnetic radiation and directly converts it to thermal energy, (2) passing another portion of said luminescent radiation and a portion of said solar radiation through said luminescent solar collector and concentrator means into said absorbing surface of said electromagnetic radiation absorber means and there absorbing most of said solar radiation portion and said luminescent radiation portion, and (3) recovering thermal energy by transferring heat by conduction to a heat recovery fluid both from (a) said photovoltaic conversion means and (b) a heat conducting surface of said electromagnetic radiation absorber means. 9. A method which comprises (1) passing solar radiation into a luminescent solar collector and concentrator means optically coupled to photovoltaic conversion means and converting a portion of the luminescent radiation produced by said luminescent solar collector and concentrator means directly to electricity, said luminescent solar collector and concentrator means surrounding without contacting an electromagnetic radiation absorber means having a surface that absorbs electromagnetic radiation and directly converts it to thermal energy, (2) passing another portion of said luminescent radiation and a portion of said solar radiation through said luminescent solar collector and concentrator means into said absorbing surface of said electromagnetic radiation absorber means and there absorbing most of said solar radiation portion and said luminescent radiation portion. Other info: Inventors: Oster, Jr., Eugene A. (Toledo, OH, US) Application Number: 917123 Filing Date: 1978-06-19 Publication_date: 1980-01-22 Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc. (Toledo, OH) Primary Class(es): 136/247 126/651, 126/692, 136/248 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
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