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Title: Structure for conversion of solar radiation to electricity and heat
Claims: We claim: 1. In a flat form solar collector, for collecting and absorbing solar radiation and conversion of said radiation to heat, comprising (1) a flat thermal collector plate having an upper surface that has a high absorptivity, at least 0.8, for electromagnetic radiation of wave lengths of 0.3 to 2.1 microns and converts such radiation on absorption largely to heat and (2) one or two superimposed enclosed insulating spaces above said thermal collector plate, each space being defined by a light conducting plate, the whole being sealed or enclosed about the periphery to form one or two spaces above said thermal plate isolated from the ambient atmosphere, the improvement wherein at least the light conducting plate immediately above said thermal collector plate is a luminescent solar collector and concentrator comprising a radiation collection medium for receiving incident solar radiation, wherein said radiation collection medium is a composite structure comprising: (a) a thin layer, containing at least one luminescent species capable of emitting luminescent radiation upon excitation with incident solar radiation, optically and physically coupled to (b) a relatively thick radiation conducting layer having an index of refraction close to that of said thin layer, said radiation collection medium being (i) totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, (ii) transparent to a portion of said incident solar radiation including visible wavelengths and (iii) optically coupled, in a relatively small portion of the surface area of said thick layer, to a photovoltaic cell responsive to said emitted luminescent radiation, said thin layer containing said luminescent species being within one of said enclosed insulating spaces, whereby in operation a portion of said luminescent radiation is conducted to said solar cell to produce electricity, and unabsorbed solar radiation including visible wavelengths plus a minor portion of said luminescent radiation is transmitted to said thermal collector plate and largely converted to heat, and whereby said thin layer is protected from the ambient environment and from direct contact with said solar cell. 2. An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said thin layer of said luminescent solar collector and concentrator plate faces said upper surface of said thermal collector plate, and wherein said photovoltaic cell is located on a peripheral outwardly facing edge of said solar collector plate. 3. An improvement according to claim 2 wherein said thermal collector plate has means for recovering heat therefrom by conduction through the bottom thereof to a heat transfer fluid. 4. An improvement according to claim 3 including means to pass heat transfer fluid into heat exchange contact with said solar cell to recover heat from said solar cell and to cool said solar cell. 5. An improvement according to claim 4 including means to pass the heat transfer fluid after heating by said solar cell into heat transfer contact with the bottom of said thermal collector plate to recover heat from said thermal collector plate. 6. An improvement according to claim 1 wherein there are two superimposed closed insulating spaces above said thermal collector plate. 7. An improvement according to claim 6 wherein said thin layer of said luminescent solar collector and concentrator plate is on the top side, and wherein said photovoltaic cell is located on a peripheral outwardly facing edge of said solar collector plate. 8. An improvement according to claim 7 wherein said thermal collector plate has means for recovering heat therefrom by conduction through the bottom thereof to a heat transfer fluid. 9. An improvement according to claim 8 including means to pass heat transfer fluid into heat exchange contact with said solar cell to recover heat from said solar cell and to cool said solar cell. 10. An improvement according to claim 9 including means to pass the heat transfer fluid after heating by said solar cell into heat transfer contact with the bottom of said thermal collector plate to recover heat from said thermal collector plate. 11. An improvement according to claim 6 wherein said thin layer of said luminescent solar collector and concentrator plate is on the top side of said solar collector plate which is immediately above said thermal collector plate, and a pattern of photovoltaic cells is physically and optically attached to the bottom of said luminescent solar collector plate. 12. An apparatus according to claim 11 including means for introducing gaseous heat transfer fluid into the space between said thermal collector plate and said luminescent solar collector plate and means for passing such gas heated by said photovoltaic cells and said thermal collector plate from said space for recovery of the heat therefrom. 13. An improvement according to claim 12 including means for recovering heat from said thermal collector plate by conduction through the bottom thereof to a heat transfer fluid. 14. An improvement according to claim 12 including means for effecting heat transfer from the bottom of the thermal collector plate to the heated gaseous fluid after it exits from the space between the thermal collector plate and the luminescent solar collector plate. Other info: Inventors: Boling, Norman L. (Toledo, OH, US) Rapp, Charles F. (Toledo, OH, US) Application Number: 956561 Filing Date: 1978-11-01 Publication_date: 1980-01-29 Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc. (Toledo, OH) Primary Class(es): 136/247 126/634, 126/668, 126/908, 136/248 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Other References: P. B. Mauer et al. "Fluorescent Solar Energy Concentrator," Research Disclosure, pp. 43-44, Oct. 1977. | |