System and method for amplifying solar panel output
阅读说明：本技术 放大太阳能面板输出的系统和方法 (System and method for amplifying solar panel output ) 是由 盖伊·克拉默 于 2018-12-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：提出了放大由太阳能面板产生的输出功率的方法和系统,该太阳能面板具有投射在其表面的一部分上的阴影。该系统和方法利用诸如双凸透镜状片材的折射-反射片和/或衍射光栅片来散射太阳光以照亮阴影,并且因此放大太阳能面板的输出功率。可替选地,当没有阴影投射在面板上时,所述片将附加的太阳光反射至面板上,增加面板的输出功率。可以使用所述片用于将太阳光折射、反射或既折射又反射至面板上。所述片可以与明亮面板或反射面板组合使用,以将附加的太阳光反射至所述面板上,以进一步放大输出。该系统和方法适用于各种类型的太阳能面板例如薄膜太阳能面板、微晶太阳能面板和多晶太阳能面板以及太阳能屋顶瓦片或其他太阳能辐射收集器。(Methods and systems are presented for amplifying output power generated by a solar panel having a shadow cast on a portion of its surface. The system and method utilize refractive-reflective sheets such as lenticular lens-like sheets and/or diffraction grating sheets to scatter sunlight to illuminate shadows and, thus, amplify the output power of the solar panel. Alternatively, when no shadow is cast on the panel, the sheet reflects additional sunlight onto the panel, increasing the output power of the panel. The sheet may be used for refracting, reflecting or both refracting and reflecting the sun onto the panel. The sheet may be used in combination with a bright panel or a reflective panel to reflect additional sunlight onto the panel to further amplify the output. The system and method are applicable to various types of solar panels such as thin film solar panels, microcrystalline solar panels, and polycrystalline solar panels, as well as solar roof tiles or other solar radiation collectors.)
1. A system for amplifying the output of a solar panel, comprising:
a solar panel having a light-receiving surface and a frame having an upper edge and a lower edge; and
a first refraction-reflection sheet having a first side comprising a plurality of refractive elements and a second side;
wherein the first refraction-reflection sheet is disposed in front of and proximate to the lower edge for reflecting sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thereby amplifying the output.
2. The system for amplifying the output power of a solar panel of claim 1, wherein said second side has a plurality of refractive elements.
3. The system for amplifying the output power of a solar panel of claim 1, wherein the first refraction-reflection sheet is one of a lenticular sheet, a linear prism sheet, an array prism sheet, and an array prism sheet including a plurality of spherical lenses.
4. The system for amplifying the output power of a solar panel of claim 3, wherein said first refractive-reflective sheet comprises a lenticular sheet, and wherein said plurality of refractive elements comprises a plurality of linear lenticular lenses.
5. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 1, wherein the solar panel comprises one of a thin film solar panel, a polycrystalline solar panel, and a single crystal silicon solar cell.
6. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 4, wherein said first refraction-reflection sheet is disposed such that said plurality of linear lenticular lenses extend in a direction perpendicular to said light-receiving surface of said solar panel.
7. The system for amplifying an output of a solar panel of claim 1, further comprising a second refraction-reflection sheet similar to said first refraction-reflection sheet and disposed adjacent to said first refraction-reflection sheet for reflecting additional sunlight onto said light receiving surface of said solar panel, thereby further amplifying said output.
8. The system for amplifying an output of a solar panel of claim 1, further comprising a second refraction-reflection sheet disposed on top of said first refraction-reflection sheet for reflecting additional sunlight onto said light receiving surface of said solar panel, thereby further amplifying said output.
9. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 1, further comprising a second refraction-reflection sheet disposed substantially above said top edge of said solar panel similar to said first refraction-reflection sheet and oriented to reflect additional sunlight onto said light-receiving surface of said solar panel, thereby further amplifying said output.
10. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 1 further comprising an upstanding refraction-reflector sheet positioned in front of said solar panel and oriented such that sunlight passes through said refraction-reflector sheet and is scattered under the action of said refracting elements to fall on a surface of said solar panel thereby illuminating shadows on said light receiving surface of said solar panel and further amplifying said output reduced by said shadows.
11. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 10, wherein said upstanding refraction-reflective sheet is coated with an anti-reflective coating or comprises an anti-reflective film to allow more sunlight to pass through said upstanding refraction-reflective sheet.
12. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 1, wherein said second side has a smooth surface coated with a colored or reflective medium for reflecting additional sunlight onto said light receiving surface of said solar panel, thereby further amplifying said output.
13. The system for amplifying an output of a solar panel of claim 1, further comprising a reflective panel disposed below said first refraction-reflection sheet for reflecting additional sunlight onto said light-receiving surface of said solar panel to further amplify said output while also preventing burning of said solar panel.
14. The system for amplifying an output of a solar panel of claim 12, further comprising a reflective panel disposed below said first refraction-reflection sheet for reflecting additional sunlight onto said light receiving surface of said solar panel to further amplify said output while also preventing burning of said solar panel.
15. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 13 wherein said reflective panel comprises one of a panel and a mirror having a brightly colored surface.
16. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 1 further comprising a first curved support surface disposed below said first refraction-reflection sheet.
17. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 9, further comprising first and second curved support surfaces disposed below said first and second refraction-reflection sheets, respectively.
18. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 13 further comprising a transparent curved support surface disposed above said reflective panel and supporting said first refraction-reflection sheet.
19. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 18 further comprising right and left upright refractive-reflective sheets located on the right and left sides of said solar panel and oriented to reflect additional sunlight onto said light-receiving surface of said solar panel to further amplify said output.
20. The system for amplifying an output of a solar panel of claim 18 further comprising right and left upright reflective panels located on right and left sides of said solar panel and oriented for reflecting additional sunlight onto said light receiving surface of said solar panel to further amplify said output.
21. The system for amplifying an output of a solar panel of claim 20 further comprising a top, left and right reflective panel disposed about said solar panel and oriented to reflect additional sunlight onto said light receiving surface of said solar panel, thereby further amplifying said output.
22. The system for amplifying an output of a solar panel of claim 13, further comprising:
right and left upright reflective panels located on right and left sides of the solar panel and oriented for reflecting additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel; and
right and left upstanding refraction-reflection sheets on the right and left upstanding reflection panels, respectively, for scattering the additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel to further amplify the output while also preventing burning of the solar panel.
23. The system for amplifying an output of a solar panel of claim 20, further comprising:
right and left upstanding refraction-reflection sheets on the right and left upstanding reflection panels, respectively, for scattering the additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel to further amplify the output while also preventing burning of the solar panel; and
a top reflective panel, a top curved support surface located below the top reflective panel, and a top refraction-reflection sheet located below the top curved support surface;
wherein the top reflective panel, the top refracting-reflecting sheet, and the top curved support surface are all stacked together and oriented for reflecting additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel to further amplify the output while also preventing burning of the solar panel.
24. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 13, further comprising at least one strip of side reflective material covered with a strip of side refractive-reflective material and oriented to reflect additional sunlight on said light receiving surface of said solar panel, thereby further amplifying said output while also preventing burning of said solar panel.
25. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 1, further comprising diffraction grating sheets disposed on top of said refraction-reflection sheets for scattering reflected sunlight onto said light receiving surface of said solar panel, thereby further amplifying said output while also preventing burning of said solar panel.
26. A system for amplifying the output of a solar panel, comprising:
a solar panel having a light-receiving surface and a frame having an upper edge and a lower edge; and
at least one refraction-reflection cylinder having an inner surface and an outer lateral surface comprising a plurality of refractive elements;
wherein the at least one refraction-reflection cylinder is disposed in front of and proximate to the lower edge for reflecting sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thereby amplifying the output.
27. The system for amplifying an output of a solar panel of claim 26, wherein at least one of said inner and outer surfaces is coated with a reflective material for reflecting additional sunlight onto said light receiving surface of said solar panel, thereby further amplifying said output.
28. The system for amplifying an output of a solar panel of claim 26 further comprising a reflective cylinder having a reflective lateral outer surface, said reflective cylinder disposed inside said at least one refraction-reflective cylinder for reflecting additional sunlight onto said light receiving surface of said solar panel, thereby further amplifying said output.
29. A system for amplifying the output of a solar panel, comprising:
a solar panel having a light-receiving surface and a frame having an upper edge and a lower edge;
a bottom reflective panel, a right reflective panel, and a left reflective panel oriented to reflect additional sunlight on the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thereby amplifying the output; and
a refraction-reflection sheet in front of the light receiving surface for scattering the reflected sunlight from the bottom reflection panel, the right reflection panel and the left reflection panel to prevent burning of the solar panel.
30. The system for amplifying an output of a solar panel of claim 29, further comprising a top reflective panel oriented to reflect additional sunlight on said light receiving surface of said solar panel, thereby further amplifying said output.
31. A system for amplifying the output of a solar panel, comprising:
a solar panel having a light-receiving surface and a frame having an upper edge and a lower edge; and
a diffraction grating sheet for reflecting and scattering sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thereby amplifying the output.
32. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 31, further comprising a reflective panel disposed below said diffraction grating sheet for reflecting additional sunlight onto said light receiving surface of said solar panel, thereby amplifying the output power generated by said solar panel.
33. The system for amplifying the output of a solar panel of claim 31, wherein a bottom side of said diffraction grating is coated with a reflective material.
34. A method of amplifying output power produced by a solar panel having a surface for receiving sunlight, the method comprising:
placing a first refraction-reflection sheet having a first side comprising a plurality of refractive elements and a second side in front of and proximate to a lower edge of the solar panel such that sunlight strikes the first side and is reflected onto the surface of the solar panel, thereby amplifying the output power generated by the solar panel.
35. The method of claim 34, further comprising placing a second refraction-reflecting sheet adjacent to the first refraction-reflecting sheet for reflecting additional sunlight onto the surface of the solar panel, thereby amplifying the output power produced by the solar panel.
36. The method of claim 34, further comprising stacking a second refraction-reflection sheet on top of the first refraction-reflection sheet for reflecting additional sunlight onto the surface of the solar panel, thereby amplifying the output power produced by the solar panel.
37. The method of claim 34, further comprising placing a second refraction-reflection sheet above and proximate to the solar panel, the second refraction-reflection sheet oriented to reflect additional sunlight onto the surface of the solar panel, thereby amplifying the output power produced by the solar panel.
38. The method of claim 34, further comprising:
placing a second, upright, refraction-reflection sheet in front of the solar panel such that sunlight enters one of the first side of the sheet and the second side of the sheet and exits through an opposite side and onto the solar panel;
wherein the second refraction-reflection sheet scatters sunlight on the surface of the solar panel, thereby illuminating a shadow on the surface of the solar panel, and thereby further amplifying the output power generated by the solar panel.
39. The method of claim 29, wherein placing the refractive-reflective sheet comprises: placing the first side with the plurality of refractive elements facing upward such that sunlight strikes the first side and is reflected onto the surface of the solar panel.
40. The method of claim 34, wherein the second side has a smooth surface, and wherein the method further comprises coating the smooth surface sheet with a color or reflective medium.
41. The method of claim 40, further comprising placing a second refraction-reflecting sheet coated with the color or the reflective medium over the solar panel and orienting the second refraction-reflecting sheet for reflecting additional sunlight onto the solar panel, thereby further amplifying the output power produced by the solar panel.
Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to solar power generation and more particularly to a system and method of amplifying solar panel output.
Background
A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is an electrical device that converts light energy directly into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect, which is a physical and chemical phenomenon. A solar cell is a form of photovoltaic cell, a device whose electrical characteristics, such as voltage, current, or resistance, change when exposed to light. Thin film solar cells are second generation solar cells made by depositing one or more thin layers or films of photovoltaic material on a substrate such as glass, plastic, or metal. Thin film technology is less expensive than conventional crystalline silicon solar cells, but less efficient.
Solar panels absorb sunlight as an energy source to generate electricity or heat. Photovoltaic modules are packaged, connected components of photovoltaic solar cells. Most photovoltaic modules use crystalline silicon solar cells or thin film cells. Photovoltaic modules are typically rated by their Direct Current (DC) output power.
Solar panels present a problem in that even shadows that occlude a portion of the surface of the panel can reduce power output by as much as 90%. Another problem with solar panels is that in cities where the sun exposure is low and the solar energy is low due to the distance from the equator, the solar panels are expensive and the energy produced is not sufficient to actually recover the cost of the panels in a reasonable time frame.
Lenticular sheets are translucent plastic sheets made by unique and precise compression on their sheets with a pitch and curvature, with a series of vertically aligned plano-convex cylindrical lenses, called lenticules, on one side and a flat surface on the other side. The lenticular lens helps to convert the 2D image into various visual illusions in which a viewer can see a lenticular special effect when the orientation of the lenticular sheet is changed. The lenticular sheet may be made of: acrylic acid, APET, PETG, polycarbonate, polypropylene, PVC or polystyrene. Each of these different materials has different sensitivities to temperature and UV light.
An important characteristic of lenticular sheet material is the density of the lenses. The density of the lenses is expressed as Lenses Per Inch (LPI). The thickness of the lenticular sheet is negatively correlated with LPI; the lower the LPI, the thicker the lenticular sheet. Another important characteristic of lenticular sheets is the viewing angle. The viewing angle of the lenticular sheet is a V-shaped region in which the lenticular image can be clearly viewed. Other characteristics of lenticular lens-like sheeting can be found on the website lens-sheet. Printing on the Lenticular Sheet can be done in an interlaced fashion via an Inkjet Printer, as described in the article "breathing the Right Lenticular Sheet for Inkjet Printer" published by CG Sheng on the domain name ViCGI. com, and the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Lenticular sheets can also be used to display stereoscopic images, as described in the article "History of lenticulars and related autosteroscopic Methods" published by David e.roberts on the domain name of outlook.
Whole body imaging is a true autostereoscopic method (stereoscopic images can be viewed without special glasses). The overall image is composed of a large number of closely packed different microimages, one lens for each microimage, which are viewed by the viewer through an array of spherical convex lenses. This particular type of lens array is referred to as a fly-eye lens array or a monolithic lens array, and is described in detail in "the History of Integrated Print Methods" at Website molecular technology. Fly-eye lenses are commercially available, such as those available on lenticulars, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Prismatic films, such as those manufactured by Kolon Industries and shown on Kolon IndustriesDCS, BK, LF, collect light from a light source such as LCDBLU by forming fine prismatic structures on a polyester film. Similarly, linear prism sheets, such as those manufactured by Ingemann and shown on Ingemann components.
In a paper "geometrical optics analysis light transmission and reflection characteristics of metallic prism sheets" (opt. eng.45(8), 084004(August 22,2006). doi:10.1117/1.2335871), written by Hwi Kim and Byoungho Lee, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, the light transmission and reflection characteristics of the metallic prism sheets were studied based on geometrical optics methods. For incident light having an arbitrary radiation intensity profile, an analytical method for finding a radiation intensity profile of light transmitted through and reflected by a single metal prism sheet is proposed. An analysis method with respect to a single prism sheet is generalized for analyzing a prism sheet layer composed of a plurality of prism sheets using a simple interaction model between adjacent prism sheets. The light transmission and reflection characteristics of the individual prism sheets and prism sheet layers were compared. It can be seen that the metallic prism sheet may be suitably applied to a transflective device or a brightness enhancement film for a liquid crystal display.
A paper "High-quality interferometric use of a multiprojector" (Optics ExpressVol.12, Issue 6, pp.1067-1076(2004)) written by Hongen Liao, Makoto Iwahara, Nobuhiko Hata, and Takeyoshi Dohi discloses the use of microlens arrays for whole body imaging, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The article "Ray-optical gain and pseudo-chromatic imaging with Dove-prism arrays" written by Johannes Courtial and John Nelson, which is available at iop.org.and the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, shows that a tile consisting of an array of small, aligned Dove prisms can partially (over the width of the prisms) reverse one component of the Ray direction.
The use of a wave prism sheet to make LCDs look better is discussed in the article "FLAT-PANEL DISPLAYS: wave prism sheet LCDs look book better" available on the year 2007, month 9 and day 1, 2007 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
U.S. patent 4,414,316 to Conley, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, discloses a flexible, composite, transparent lenticular screen sheet in the form of a lenticular lens suitable for use in producing three-dimensional optical effects and characterized by having a uniform overall thickness and having uniform fine definition and quality. The lenticular form has a uniform focal length that is precisely related to the overall thickness of the composite sheet to provide a uniform, high quality three-dimensional optical effect throughout the lenticular screen sheet.
U.S. patent 6,995,914 to Conley et al, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, discloses a method of producing lenticular lens-like sheets having anisotropic optical properties.
Us patent 7,731,813 to Raymond et al, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, discloses a method for manufacturing a device for displaying interlaced images. The method comprises providing a film of transparent material and creating an array of lenses in the film by forming parallel sets of lenses on a first side of the film, and then bonding an interlaced image comprising a plurality of sets of elongate image elements to a second side of the film.
U.S. patent 8,411,363 to Niemuth, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, discloses a lenticular sheet comprising a first surface having at least two portions, an opposing second surface, and a plurality of lenticular lenses formed in the first surface. Each section of the first surface comprises a number of lenticular lenses per cm which is different from the number of lenticular lenses per cm of an adjacent section of the first surface.
U.S. patent publication No. 2004/0136079 and U.S. patent publication No. 2005/0286134 to Goggins, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, disclose lenticular lenses and methods for making the lenses, and in particular when the lenses are a web of lenticular lenses, make it possible to achieve finishing operations and various end-use applications of the lenses or to adapt them in conformity with the manufacture of the web of lenses.
A diffraction grating is a glass, plastic or metal plate painted with closely spaced parallel lines that produce a spectrum by diffraction and interference of light. A diffraction grating is an optical component with a periodic structure that splits and diffracts light into several beams of light traveling in different directions. The coloration that occurs is a form of structural coloration. The direction of the beam depends on the pitch of the grating and the wavelength of the light, so that the grating acts as a dispersive element. Holographic diffraction gratings are highly efficient imprinted Holographic Optical Elements (HOEs). Diffraction gratings are used to directly view and analyze spectra from different gas tubes and other light sources.
The present invention seeks to address at least some of the above problems found with solar panels by using refractive-reflective structures such as lenticular sheets or cylinders, reflective panels such as mirrors and diffraction grating sheets.
Disclosure of Invention
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for amplifying the output of a solar panel, the system comprising: a solar panel having a light-receiving surface and a frame having an upper edge and a lower edge; and a first refraction-reflection sheet having a first side including a plurality of refraction elements and a second side. The first refraction-reflection sheet is disposed in front of and near the lower edge for reflecting sunlight onto a light receiving surface of the solar panel, thus amplifying an output.
In one embodiment, the second side of the first refraction-reflection sheet also has a plurality of refraction elements.
The first refraction-reflection sheet may be one of a lenticular sheet, a linear prism sheet, an array prism sheet, and an array prism sheet including a plurality of spherical lenses.
In one embodiment, the first refraction-reflection sheet includes a lenticular sheet, and wherein the plurality of refractive elements includes a plurality of linear lenticular lenses.
The solar panel may be a thin film solar panel, a polycrystalline solar panel, or a single crystalline silicon solar cell.
In one embodiment, the first refraction-reflection sheet is disposed such that the plurality of linear lenticular lenses extend in a direction perpendicular to the light receiving surface of the solar panel.
In one embodiment, the system further comprises a second refraction-reflection sheet similar to the first refraction-reflection sheet and disposed adjacent to the first refraction-reflection sheet for reflecting additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thus further amplifying the output.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises a second refraction-reflection sheet disposed on top of the first refraction-reflection sheet for reflecting additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thus further amplifying the output.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises a second refraction-reflection sheet disposed substantially above the top edge of the solar panel similar to the first refraction-reflection sheet and oriented to reflect additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thereby further amplifying the output.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises an upstanding refraction-reflection sheet positioned in front of the solar panel and oriented such that sunlight passes through the refraction-reflection sheet and is scattered by the refracting element to fall on the surface of the solar panel thereby illuminating the shadow on the light receiving surface of the solar panel and further amplifying the output reduced by the shadow.
In one embodiment, the upstanding refraction-reflective sheet is coated with an anti-reflective coating or includes an anti-reflective film to allow more sunlight to pass through the upstanding refraction-reflective sheet.
In one embodiment, the second side of the first refraction-reflection sheet has a smooth surface coated with a color or a reflection medium for reflecting additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thus further amplifying the output.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises a reflective panel disposed under the first refraction-reflection sheet for reflecting additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel to further amplify the output while also preventing burning of the solar panel.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises a reflective panel disposed under the first refraction-reflection sheet for reflecting additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel to further amplify the output while also preventing burning of the solar panel.
In one embodiment, the reflective panel comprises a panel or mirror having a brightly colored surface.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises a first curved support surface disposed below the first refraction-reflection sheet.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises first and second curved support surfaces disposed under the first and second refraction-reflection sheets, respectively.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises a transparent curved support surface disposed above the reflective panel and supporting the first refraction-reflection sheet.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises right and left upstanding refraction-reflection sheets positioned on the right and left sides of the solar panel and oriented to reflect additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel to further amplify the output.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises right and left upright reflective panels located on the right and left sides of the solar panel and oriented to reflect additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel to further amplify the output
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises a top, left and right reflective panel disposed about the solar panel and oriented to reflect additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thereby further amplifying the output.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises: right and left upright reflective panels located on right and left sides of the solar panel and oriented for reflecting additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel; right and left upstanding refraction-reflection sheets respectively positioned on the right and left upstanding reflection panels for scattering additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel to further amplify the output while also preventing burning of the solar panel.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying a solar panel further comprises: right and left upright refraction-reflection sheets respectively positioned on the right and left upright reflection panels for scattering additional sunlight onto a light receiving surface of the solar panel to further amplify the output while also preventing burning of the solar panel; and a top reflective panel, a top curved support surface below the top reflective panel, and a top refraction-reflection sheet below the top curved support surface. The top reflective panel, the top refracting-reflecting sheet, and the top curved support surface are all stacked together and oriented for reflecting additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel to further amplify the output while also preventing burning of the solar panel.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises at least one side reflective material strip covered with a side refractive-reflective material strip and oriented to reflect additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thus further amplifying the output while also preventing burning of the solar panel.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises a diffraction grating sheet disposed on top of the refraction-reflection sheet for scattering reflected sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thereby further amplifying the output while also preventing burning of the solar panel.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for amplifying the output of a solar panel, the system comprising: a solar panel having a light-receiving surface and a frame having an upper edge and a lower edge; and at least one refraction-reflection cylinder having an inner surface and an outer lateral surface comprising a plurality of refractive elements. At least one refraction-reflection cylinder is disposed in front of and proximate to the lower edge for reflecting sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thus amplifying the output.
In one embodiment, at least one of the outer and inner surfaces of the at least one refraction-reflection cylinder is coated with a reflective material for reflecting additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thus further amplifying the output.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises a reflective cylinder having a reflective lateral outer surface, the reflective cylinder being disposed inside the at least one refraction-reflective cylinder for reflecting additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thereby further amplifying the output.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a system for amplifying an output of a solar panel is provided, the system comprising: a solar panel having a light-receiving surface and a frame having an upper edge and a lower edge; a bottom, right and left reflective panels oriented to reflect additional sunlight on a light receiving surface of the solar panel, thus amplifying the output; and a refraction-reflection sheet located in front of the light receiving surface for scattering the reflected sunlight from the bottom reflection panel, the right reflection panel and the left reflection panel to prevent burning of the solar panel.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises a top reflective panel oriented to reflect additional sunlight on the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thus further amplifying the output.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a system for amplifying an output of a solar panel is provided, the system comprising: a solar panel having a light-receiving surface and a frame having an upper edge and a lower edge; and a diffraction grating sheet for reflecting and scattering sunlight onto a light receiving surface of the solar panel, thereby amplifying an output.
In one embodiment, the system for amplifying the output of a solar panel further comprises a reflective panel disposed under the diffraction grating sheet for reflecting additional sunlight onto a light receiving surface of the solar panel, thereby amplifying the output power generated by the solar panel. In another embodiment, the bottom side of the diffraction grating is coated with a reflective material for reflecting additional sunlight onto the light receiving surface of the solar panel, thus amplifying the output power produced by the solar panel.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of amplifying power generated by a solar panel having a shadow cast on a portion of a surface thereof, the method comprising: a catadioptric sheet having a first side and a second side is placed proximate to and substantially in front of the solar panel such that sunlight strikes one of the first side and the second side of the sheet and is reflected onto a surface of the solar panel. The refraction-reflection sheet scatters the reflected sunlight on the surface of the solar panel, thereby illuminating the shadow on the surface of the solar panel, reducing its darkness and thus amplifying the output power produced by the solar panel.
In one embodiment, the first side has a plurality of refractive elements and the second side comprises a smooth surface. In another embodiment, the first side and the second side each have a plurality of refractive elements.
In one embodiment, placing the refractive-reflective sheet comprises placing the first side having the plurality of refractive elements facing upward such that sunlight strikes the first side and is reflected onto a surface of the solar panel. The method may include coating the smooth surface of the second side of the refractive-reflective sheet with a color or with a reflective medium.
In another embodiment, placing the refraction-reflection sheet includes placing the second side having a smooth surface facing upward such that sunlight strikes the second side and is reflected onto the surface of the solar panel.
In one embodiment, the refractive-reflective sheet is a lenticular sheet, and the plurality of refractive elements includes a plurality of lenticular lenses. The plurality of lenticular lenses may be linear or non-linear.
In another embodiment, the refractive-reflective sheet is a linear prism sheet.
In yet another embodiment, the refractive-reflective sheet is an array prism sheet. The array prism sheet may include a plurality of spherical lenses.
In one embodiment, a refractive-reflective sheet is placed on top of a reflective panel that reflects additional sunlight through the refractive-reflective sheet and onto the surface of the solar panel. The reflective panel may include a panel having a bright colored surface or a panel having a reflective surface such as a mirror.
In one embodiment, the refractive-reflective sheet is rectangular and flat. In another embodiment, the refractive-reflective sheet is formed as a cylinder. In yet another embodiment, the refractive-reflective sheet is formed as a concave dish to direct sunlight at the solar panel from multiple angles. In yet another embodiment, the refraction-reflection sheet is formed as a convex panel to further spread sunlight on the solar panel.
In one embodiment, the solar panel and the refraction-reflection sheet are movable to track sunlight. In another embodiment, the catadioptric sheet is directed at the sun at critical times to improve the collection of sunlight.
In one embodiment, the solar panel comprises a plurality of solar panels mounted on a tower.
In one embodiment, the solar panel comprises a thin film solar panel. In another embodiment, the solar panel comprises a single crystalline silicon solar cell. In yet another embodiment, the solar panel comprises a solar roof piece, such as a solar roof panel.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for amplifying the output power of a solar panel, the system comprising a solar panel and a refraction-reflection sheet for implementing any one of the aforementioned methods of amplifying the output power of a solar panel.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of amplifying output power produced by a solar panel having a shadow of an object cast on a portion of its surface, the method comprising: a catadioptric sheet having a first side and a second side is placed between the object and the solar panel such that sunlight enters one of the first side of the sheet and the second side of the sheet and exits via the opposite side and onto the solar panel. The refraction-reflection sheet scatters sunlight on the surface of the solar panel, thereby illuminating the shadow on the surface of the solar panel, reducing its darkness, and thus amplifying the output power produced by the solar panel.
In one embodiment, the first side has a plurality of refractive elements and the second side comprises a smooth surface. In another embodiment, the first side and the second side each have a plurality of refractive elements.
In one embodiment, placing the refraction-reflection sheet includes placing a first side having a plurality of refractive elements facing a source of sunlight such that sunlight enters the first side and exits a second side having a smooth surface.
In another embodiment, positioning the refraction-reflection sheet includes positioning the second side having a smooth surface facing the solar light source such that sunlight enters the second side and exits the first side having the plurality of refractive elements.
In one embodiment, the refractive-reflective sheet is a lenticular sheet, and the plurality of refractive elements includes a plurality of lenticular lenses.
In another embodiment, the refraction-reflection sheet includes a plurality of convex lenses.
In yet another embodiment, the refractive-reflective sheet comprises an array of dove prisms.
In another embodiment, the refraction-reflection sheet is a corrugated prism sheet.
In one embodiment, the refractive-reflective sheet is positioned substantially in a direction parallel to the solar panel.
In one embodiment, the refractive-reflective sheet is coated with an anti-reflective coating to allow more sunlight to pass through the refractive-reflective sheet. In another embodiment, the refractive-reflective sheet further comprises an anti-reflective film to allow more sunlight to pass through the refractive-reflective sheet.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of amplifying output power for a solar panel having a shadow cast on a portion of a surface thereof, the method comprising: placing a first catadioptric sheet having a first side and a second side between the object and the solar panel such that sunlight enters one of the first side of the sheet and the second side of the sheet and exits via the opposite side; and placing a second catadioptric sheet having a first side and a second side proximate to and substantially in front of the solar panel such that sunlight exiting the first catadioptric sheet is reflected from the second catadioptric sheet and onto a surface of the solar panel. Each of the first and second refraction-reflection sheets scatters sunlight on the surface of the solar panel, thereby illuminating a shadow on the surface of the solar panel, reducing its darkness, and thereby amplifying the output power generated by the solar panel.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises placing a reflective panel under the first refraction-reflector sheet for reflecting additional sunlight through the first refraction-reflector sheet and onto the surface of the solar panel.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a system for amplifying the output power of a solar panel is provided, the system comprising a solar panel, a first refraction-reflection sheet and a second refraction-reflection sheet, for implementing the aforementioned method of amplifying the output power of a solar panel.
Drawings
Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a system of two solar panels used to illustrate various embodiments of the present invention, showing a measurement of the current produced by the solar panels given using a multimeter;
FIG. 1B is a perspective view of another system of solar panels, wherein one panel has shadows of objects cast thereon;
FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a refractive-reflective sheet in the form of a single-sided linear lenticular sheet as known in the art;
FIG. 1D is a perspective view of a refraction-reflection sheet in the form of a linear prism sheet as known in the art;
FIG. 1E is a perspective view of a refractive reflector sheet in the form of a prism array sheet comprising spherical convex lens elements, referred to as a fly-eye lens;
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1B, including a catadioptric sheet on the ground in front of and proximate to a lower edge of one of the solar panels, such that sunlight is reflected on the catadioptric sheet and then onto a surface of the solar panel to amplify its output power, according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1A without shadows of objects cast on either of the two solar panels;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1A, including two adjacent refraction-reflection sheets on the ground in front of and proximate to the lower edge of one of the solar panels, such that sunlight is reflected on the refraction-reflection sheets and then onto the surface of the solar panels to amplify its output power, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the system as shown in FIG. 3, except that two refraction-reflection sheets are stacked on top of each other and in front of and near the ground surface of the lower edge of one of the solar panels, according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the system as shown in FIG. 4, but with a third catadioptric sheet placed on the ground adjacent to the two stacked catadioptric sheets for reflecting additional sunlight onto the surface of the same solar panel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the system as shown in FIG. 2B, but with one retro-reflective sheet placed on the ground in front of and near the lower edge of one of the solar panels and another retro-reflective sheet located near the top edge of the same solar panel and angled for reflecting sunlight onto the surface of the solar panel, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1B, including an upstanding refraction-reflection sheet positioned in front of a solar panel having a shadow mask on a portion of its surface such that sunlight passes through the refraction-reflection sheet and onto the surface of the solar panel to amplify the output of the solar panel, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1A including an upright catadioptric sheet positioned to the front of the solar panel such that sunlight passes through the catadioptric sheet and onto the surface of the solar panel to amplify the output of the solar panel, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1B including a first refraction-reflection sheet on the ground placed in front of the solar panel near its lower edge and a second upright refraction-reflection sheet in front of the solar panel to amplify the output power of the solar panel, according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 8A without shadows of objects cast on any of the solar panels;
FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1B, including a reflective panel, such as a mirror, as known in the art for reflecting sunlight onto a solar panel that is partially shaded by a shadow to amplify the output power of the solar panel;
FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 9A without shadows of objects cast on either of the two solar panels;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of FIG. 9B, but using a refractive-reflective sheet coated with a reflective material;
FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 9A, but including a refraction-reflection sheet placed on the reflective panel to amplify the output power of the solar panel, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11B is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 11A without a shadow of an object being cast on either of the two solar panels;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of FIG. 9B, but additionally having a refractive-reflective sheet coated with a reflective material placed on top of a reflective panel, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the system as shown in FIG. 12, but with one of the retro-reflective sheets coated with a reflective material placed on the ground in front of and proximate to the lower edge of one of the solar panels and another of the retro-reflective sheets coated with a reflective material positioned proximate to the top edge of the same solar panel and angled for reflecting sunlight onto the surface of the solar panel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a system of solar panels similar to the system of FIG. 1A for comparing the effect of shadows cast by upright refractor-reflector sheets and shadows cast by opaque objects on the power generated by the solar panels;
FIG. 15A is a system of two thin film 7 watt solar panels, shown with voltage measurements used to establish a reference for comparison;
FIG. 15B is a system of the solar panel of FIG. 15A, shown with current measurements used to establish a reference for comparison;
FIG. 16A is the system of solar panels of FIG. 15A with shadows of an object cast on one of the two solar panels, showing current measurements;
FIG. 16B is a system of the solar panel of FIG. 16A, shown with voltage measurements;
FIG. 17A is a system of the solar panel of FIG. 16A including a reflective panel, such as a mirror, placed on the ground in front of the solar panel near its lower edge, showing current measurements;
FIG. 17B is a system of the solar panel of FIG. 17A, but showing voltage measurements;
FIG. 18A is a system of the solar panel of FIG. 16A including a refraction-reflection sheet placed on the ground in front of the solar panel near its lower edge, showing current measurements;
FIG. 18B is a system of the solar panel of FIG. 18A, shown with voltage measurements;
FIG. 19A is a system of the solar panel of FIG. 16A, including a reflective panel, such as a mirror, placed on the ground in front of the solar panel near its lower edge and a refraction-reflection sheet on top of the reflective panel, showing current measurements;
FIG. 19B is a system of the solar panel of FIG. 19A, shown with voltage measurements;
FIG. 20A is a system of solar panels as in FIG. 15A, including three refractor-reflector sheets placed on the ground in front of the solar panels at right angles to the solar panels and near the lower edges of the solar panels, showing current measurements;
FIG. 20B is a system of the solar panel of FIG. 20A, shown with voltage measurements;
FIG. 21 is a system of solar panels including three reflective panels placed on the ground in front of a first solar panel near its lower edge and at right angles to the first solar panel, and three reflective panels placed on the ground in front of a second solar panel near its lower edge and at optimal angles to the second solar panel, each having a refraction-reflection sheet on top of it;
FIG. 22 is a system of solar panels similar to the system of FIG. 21, but wherein both panels have an optimal angle relative to the reflective panel;
FIG. 23 is a system of solar panels similar to the system of FIG. 21, but wherein both panels have a right angle with respect to the reflective panel;
FIG. 24A is a front perspective view of a solar panel having a plurality of refraction-reflection cylinders according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 24B is a paperboard cylinder made of a reflective paperboard material;
FIG. 25A is a perspective view of a system for comparing current of a solar panel having a refraction-reflection cylinder in front of and near a lower edge of the solar panel to a control solar panel;
FIG. 25B is a perspective view of a system for comparing the voltage of a solar panel having a refraction-reflection cylinder in front of and near the lower edge of the solar panel as shown in FIG. 25A to a control solar panel;
FIG. 26A is a perspective view of a system similar to that of FIG. 25A, wherein the refractive-reflective cylinder is additionally fitted with a cylinder made of reflective paperboard material as shown in FIG. 24B, showing current measurements;
FIG. 26B is a perspective view of a system similar to that of FIG. 26A, showing voltage measurements;
FIG. 27A is a perspective view of a system for comparing the performance of a solar panel having a refraction-reflection cylinder in front of and near the lower edge of the solar panel as shown in FIG. 25A with the performance of a solar panel having a refraction-reflection sheet placed in front of and near the lower edge of another solar panel, showing current measurements;
FIG. 27B is a perspective view of a system similar to the system of FIG. 27A, shown with voltage measurements;
FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a system of solar panels, one of which has a transparent riot shield for reflecting solar rays having a refraction-reflection sheet attached thereto, the shield being disposed in front of and proximate to a lower edge of one of the solar panels;
FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of FIG. 28, but with an additional riot shield having attached thereto a refraction-reflection sheet that remains above the top edge of the same solar panel;
FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of FIG. 28, but with a reflective panel, such as a mirror, placed under the blast shield;
FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of FIG. 30, but additionally having two upstanding refraction-reflection sheets placed on the sides of the same solar panel with an anti-riot shield placed in front of it;
FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of FIG. 30, but additionally having two upright reflective panels placed on the sides of the same solar panel with an anti-riot shield placed in front of it;
FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a solar panel having a reflective material coated refraction-reflection sheet placed in front of and near the lower edge of one panel and three reflection panels placed to the sides and above the same solar panel for reflecting solar rays on the same solar panel;
FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a solar panel surrounded by four linear lenticular sheets having the best polarization of linear lenticular lenses that have been observed for reflecting solar rays onto the solar panel;
FIG. 35 is a view similar to that of FIG. 34, but wherein the four linear lenticular sheets are curved in a convex manner relative to the solar panel;
FIG. 36 is a view similar to that of FIG. 34, but wherein the four linear lenticular sheets are curved in a concave manner relative to the solar panel;
FIG. 37 is a view similar to that of FIG. 34, but with the two linear lenticular sheets curved in a convex manner relative to the solar panel and the two linear lenticular sheets curved in a concave manner relative to the solar panel;
FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a solar panel surrounded by four linear lenticular sheets having sub-optimal polarizations of linear lenticular lenses that have been observed for reflecting solar rays onto the solar panel;
FIG. 39 is a view similar to that of FIG. 38, but wherein the four linear lenticular sheets are curved in a convex manner relative to the solar panel;
FIG. 40A is a perspective view of a system of solar panels, one panel surrounded from three sides by reflective panels, each reflective panel comprising a reflective panel and a refraction-reflection sheet placed on top of the reflective panel, showing current measurements;
FIG. 40B is the system of FIG. 40A, but with voltage measurements shown;
FIG. 41A is a system similar to FIG. 40A, but also with a shadow cast on one of the solar panels;
FIG. 41B is a system similar to FIG. 40B, but also with a shadow cast on one of the solar panels;
FIG. 42 is a perspective view of a system of solar panels, one surrounded from 4 sides with reflective panels, two of which are mirrors covered with lenticular lens-like sheeting placed on the sides of the solar panel, and a transparent explosion proof shield with mirror backing to the top and bottom;
FIG. 43 is a perspective view of a system of solar panels, one surrounded from 4 sides with reflective panels, three of which are lenticular sheet covered mirrors placed on the sides and bottom of the solar panel, and a transparent surface such as a storm shield covered with lenticular sheet and having a mirror backing;
FIG. 44 is a perspective view of a system of solar panels, wherein one panel has three reflective panels covered with a refraction-reflector sheet placed in front of and proximate to a lower edge of one of the solar panels;
FIG. 45 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 44, but additionally having two upright reflective panels with a refraction-reflector cover placed on either side of the panel, the reflective panels having a reflective panel and a refraction-reflector cover;
FIG. 46A is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 40A, but additionally having a refractive-reflective sheet, such as a lenticular sheet, bent and placed in front of the panel with the reflector panel;
FIG. 46B is a top view of the system of FIG. 46A;
FIG. 47 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of FIG. 46A, but without the refraction-reflection sheet placed on the three reflective panels;
FIG. 48 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of FIG. 47, but additionally including a reflective panel, such as a mirror, held above and near the top edge of the solar panel surrounded by other reflective panels;
FIG. 49 is a perspective view of a system of solar panels, one panel having four reflective panels with a refraction-reflector cover in front of and near the bottom edge of its bottom edge, and an additional two strips of reflective material with a refraction-reflector cover attached to the side edges of the panel;
FIG. 50 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of FIG. 49, but featuring an additional strip of reflective material with a refractive-reflective cover attached to the top edge of the panel; and
FIG. 51 is a perspective view of a system of two solar panels, each having a reflective panel with a refractive-reflective cover sheet in front of and near its bottom edge, and one of the panels additionally having a diffraction grating sheet placed on top of the refractive-reflective sheet.
Detailed Description
While the foregoing background has identified certain problems known in the art, the present invention provides, in part, new and useful applications.
Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a prior art system of two 30 watt single crystal
Fig. 1C is a perspective view of a refractive-reflective sheet in the form of a single-sided linear lenticular sheet 800, as known in the art. The linear lenticular sheet 800 has a plurality of refractive elements in the form of a plurality of linear lenticular lenses 810 on a first side thereof. Fig. 1D is a perspective view of a refraction-reflection sheet in the form of a
The inventors have used the refraction-reflection sheet shown in fig. 1C through 1E in combination with solar panels and other reflective panels to amplify the output of solar energy in the presence of shadows or other conditions, as explained below.
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1B, featuring a
Fig. 2B is a perspective view of the system of fig. 1A, but with a refraction-
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the system of fig. 2B, but including two adjacent refraction-
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the system as shown in fig. 3, except that two refraction-
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the system as shown in FIG. 4, but with a third catadioptric sheet 104 placed on the ground adjacent to the two stacked
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the system as shown in FIG. 2B, but with one
In one embodiment, the refractive-reflective sheets used each have a first side with a plurality of refractive elements and a second side with a smooth surface. In one embodiment, the refractive-reflective sheet is placed on the ground with the side containing the refractive elements facing upward for receiving and reflecting sunlight toward the solar panel. In this embodiment, the smooth surface of the second side of the refraction-reflective sheet may be colored to increase the solar reflectance of the sheet. Alternatively, the smooth surface of the second side of the refraction-reflection sheet may be coated with a reflection medium. In another embodiment, the refraction-reflection sheet is placed on the ground with the smooth side facing upward for receiving and reflecting sunlight toward the solar panel.
In another embodiment, the side containing the refractive elements faces upward and the refractive elements are coated with a reflective coating to increase the amount of reflection of light by the solar panel. The coating may be part of the manufacturing process of the refractive-reflective sheet or may be coated on the top surface of the refractive element. The reflective paint or mirror coating may be silver, chrome, gold, platinum, bronze, red, green, blue or any other suitable color or combination of colors to control the reflected output and increase architectural color choices. Some of these embodiments will be illustrated with reference to fig. 10 and 12 to 13 described below. The resulting refraction-reflection sheet functions somewhat like a mirror booster, but has the added benefit of spreading the reflected light over the solar panel, which avoids burn-out, as further described below.
Turning to fig. 7A, fig. 7A is a perspective view of the system of fig. 1B featuring an upstanding refractor-
Turning now to fig. 8A, fig. 8A is a perspective view of the system of fig. 1B, featuring two refraction-
In another embodiment, the refractive-
Fig. 9A is a perspective view of the system of fig. 1B featuring a
Fig. 9B is a perspective view of a system having a
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of FIG. 9B, but using a refractive-reflective sheet coated with a reflective material in place of a mirror. The refractive-reflective sheet is a linear
Fig. 11A is a perspective view of the system of fig. 9A, featuring a
Fig. 11B is a perspective view of the embodiment of fig. 11A without a shadow of an object being cast on either of the two solar panels. In this case,
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of fig. 9B, but additionally having a refractive-
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of fig. 12, but utilizing an additional refractive-
In another embodiment, the color and/or gloss of the coating may be applied to the refractive elements or smooth sides of the refractive-reflective sheet. Coloring the refractive side may produce more or less reflection on the panel (because the sheet is placed on the ground with the refractive side facing up) than coloring a smooth side that may be at the bottom. The color may be changed to control the amount of light reflected from the refraction-reflection sheet and onto the solar panel. Advantageously, this allows the lens to be produced with a controlled reflected output, as well as creating an aesthetic add-on to the refractive-reflective sheet as a visible component of the solar panel system. Coloration may be added to the manufacturing process, thereby producing the material in that color or colors, and no painting is required. The color may be changed, thereby using a plurality of colors, and also the gloss may be mixed, thereby establishing a camouflage effect for the refraction-reflection sheet. This allows the refraction-reflector to blend into the background, act as a dazzling camouflage where high contrast images may disrupt the contour of the refraction-reflector, or simply act as architectural color choices to help blend or contrast with the structure or environment, or a combination thereof. Coloring may also be used for advertising, artwork, simulated roofing structures such as roof tiles or bricks.
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a solar panel system in which a refraction-
Fig. 15A and 15B show a system for two thin film 7W solar panels used in testing embodiments of the present invention. In FIG.
Fig. 16A and 16B illustrate the system of fig. 15A and 15B, wherein a shadow of the
Fig. 17A and 17B illustrate a system in which a
Fig. 18A and 18B show the system of fig. 15A and 15B, wherein a refraction-
Fig. 19A and 19B show the system of fig. 15A and 15B, wherein the refraction-
Fig. 20A and 20B show a system of two 30 watt single crystal
Fig. 21 shows a system of two
Fig. 22 shows a system of two solar panels similar to the system of fig. 21, except that both
Fig. 23 shows a two solar panel system similar to that of fig. 21, except that both
Although studies have shown that solar panel output can be increased by as much as 30% by adding reflectors, it turns out that the use of refractive-reflective sheets such as lenticular lens-like sheets can achieve almost 57% improvement in doubling the results, as shown in the systems of fig. 20A and 20B. It should be noted that the panels in these figures are at a 90 degree angle relative to the refractor-reflector sheet lying on the ground. Therefore, the refraction-reflection sheet does not have an optimal angle for reflection, which is generally used for research. From the experiments of fig. 20 to 23 it was also determined that 90 degrees is not the optimal angle for orienting the solar panel relative to the mirror booster.
From the rear of the solar panel, it was verified that a reflective panel such as a mirror reflects only sunlight from a central point. However, since the reflective panel has a refraction-reflection sheet such as a lenticular sheet on the top thereof, the reflection of sunlight is not as intense as a mirror but is spread over the panel. Thus, it provides lower intensity but spreads over a larger surface area, which provides more usable sunlight for the solar panel than could otherwise be achieved using the mirror alone.
Additionally, it was found that the angle of light reflected by a refractive-reflective material placed on top of the mirror was lower than that observed using the mirror alone. As the panel is oriented closer to 90 degrees, the current increases from 1.56A to 1.76A. However, orienting the panel in this manner (closer to 90 degrees) causes the current to decrease from 1.62A to 1.54A when only mirrors are used. While the optimal angle is variable due to time and location, it is not limited to 90 degrees and may be different from the optimal angle for the solar panel that is observed using standard calculations without any magnification.
The conclusion is that improvements can be made if the refractive-reflective material and the reflective panels below it are stiffer to produce a more uniform reflectance. Otherwise, irregularities in the reflection may be observed due to irregularities in the surface of the reflective panel and/or the refractive-reflective surface placed on top of the reflective panel. Alternatively, the rigid refractive-reflective sheet may have a reflective coating applied thereto to produce a uniform reflectance of sunlight on the surface of the solar panel.
Fig. 24A is a front perspective view of a solar panel having a plurality of refraction-reflection cylinders according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, 3 refraction-
FIG. 24B depicts a
Fig. 25A is a system for comparing the performance of a
Fig. 26A is a system similar to that of fig. 25, wherein a refractive-
FIG. 27A is a perspective view of a system for comparing the performance of a
FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a system of two solar panels. A transparent explosion-
Fig. 29 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of fig. 28, but featuring an
Fig. 30 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of fig. 28, but additionally having a
FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of FIG. 30, but additionally having two upstanding refraction-
FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of FIG. 31, except that two upright
Fig. 33 is a perspective view of a system of solar panels with reflectors on four sides of the
Fig. 34 to 39 are schematic views depicting the
Fig. 40A is a perspective view of a system of solar panels similar to the system of fig. 33, but using only three reflective panels. A
The system described in fig. 40A and 40B is then used in conjunction with the application of the shadow of an object to the
Fig. 42 depicts a system of solar panels, wherein one
Fig. 43 depicts a system of two thin film solar panels, where one
The experiment of fig. 43 was also performed using a single crystal solar panel and no explosion protection cover on top. The
In another embodiment, two single crystal solar panels with reflectors and a control solar panel are used. Four reflectors were used: one explosion protection shield on top and one on the bottom with the mirror behind each shield and the lenticular lens sheet on top of each shield; and two upstanding mirrors, with lenticular lens-like sheets on the sides. The observed value for the control panel was 1.18A × 20.4V — 24.072W. And for a panel with a reflector: 3.59A × 18.8V ═ 67.492W. Although the output power for the solar panel with reflector is 2.8 times higher, it has not been fully tripled with the control panel. This confirms the earlier findings: the additional heat causes the voltage at the output of the single crystal plate to drop.
The performance of solar panels is typically in the range of 1000W/m2Measured at the optimum rating of solar energy. Such solar conditions are achievable: at the equator, at noon, under ideal clear sky conditions, and at a temperature of 25 degrees celsius. At mid-day at the equator, the sun is at a 90 degree angle to the earth's surface. Other regions of the world experience different angles of incidence of solar rays. For example, in Vancouver, Canada, 11.2.2018, the sun is at an angle of about 26 degrees, and the maximum solar intensity is only 400W/m at noon2. At an earlier time of day, about 10:40AM, experiments were performed using the arrangement shown in fig. 20A and 20B above but using a polycrystalline solar panel as depicted in fig. 44.
FIG. 44 depicts a system of polycrystalline
FIG. 45 depicts a system similar to that of FIG. 20, wherein three refractor-reflector sheets are placed in front of and proximate to the lower edge of
The above finding is of great importance because in many cities around the world the adoption of solar panels is not high, mainly because the power generated is relatively low, so that it takes a long time to recover the cost of the system of solar panels. This varies and depends on location, sunlight time and sunlight angle. The closer the city is to the equator, the better these conditions are obtained. However, the above-described method of significantly amplifying the output power of a solar panel means that the cost of a system of solar panels can be more quickly recovered from the power generated. Thus, many cities in the world may become viable markets for solar panels.
In one experiment performed using the system of fig. 40A and 40B, the
Fig. 46 is a perspective view of a system similar to that of fig. 40A and 40B, but additionally having a refraction-
Fig. 47 shows a system similar to that of fig. 46A and 46B, but in which no reflective-
Fig. 48 shows a system similar to that of fig. 47, but additionally with a
While the improvement is significant when using 4 reflectors around the solar panel, it is not practical in some cases to add such reflectors. For example, there may be no space around the solar panel for side reflectors. Furthermore, large reflectors will create shadows as the sun changes direction throughout the day. This results in a concept with smaller side and (optionally top) reflecting devices, e.g. so that their shadows do not interfere with adjacent panels. In fig. 49, a side reflector is added to the
Fig. 51 depicts a system for comparing power amplification of two solar panels using two different configurations. The
What is observed with diffraction gratings is that they spread the reflection of the sun over a much larger area. For biaxial sheeting, the sun spreads up and down and in the left and right direction. The spreading of the sun in all directions avoids the need to track the sun and optimize the reflection angle between the sheet and the panel as is the case with linear lenticular sheet.
Although only one diffraction grating sheet was tested, it is expected that adding more diffraction grating sheets to the setup of fig. 51 will improve the solar power amplification of the solar panel.
In 2018, 12 and 6 months, near Vancouver Columbia province, when the maximum solar radiation is about 300W/m2A test was performed using a biaxial diffraction grating in combination with a lenticular lens placed on a reflective panel. It is expected that higher solar radiation levels in the spring and summer will increase the percentage of potential power output above the level measured at the solar radiation nadir for that year.
It is also contemplated to combine the linear lenticular sheet, the diffraction grating and the reflective panel into one material. In one embodiment, a linear lenticular lens will have a coating of diffraction gratings on its lens side and a reflective coating on the smooth side opposite the lens side.
In another embodiment, there are three separate materials: a diffraction grating sheet, a linear lenticular lens, and a reflective panel such as a mirror. A diffraction grating may be placed on top of the linear lenticular lens. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the diffraction grating may be placed below the linear lenticular lens but above the mirror.
In yet another embodiment, two diffraction grating layers may be used; one on top of the linear lenticular lens and one between the linear lenticular lens and the reflective panel.
Although the various refractive-reflective sheets presented herein are shown as rectangular in shape and generally flat, other configurations are contemplated. For example, the refraction-reflection sheet may form a concave disk, a hemisphere, or a curved rectangle for directing sunlight from different angles to the solar panel.
Although most embodiments utilize a refractive-reflective sheet such as a linear lenticular sheet, similar results can be obtained by using a diffraction grating sheet instead of a refractive-reflective sheet.
Although the presented embodiments show a fixed solar panel, both the solar panel and the refraction-reflection sheet can be moved individually or both on a rotating platform or other equivalent device to track the sunlight from different directions at different times of the day or in different seasons. Alternatively, the catadioptric sheets may be directed at the sun at key times to improve solar collection. For example, the sheet may be placed and oriented such that the sheet is in the path of the sunlight only when the sunlight is in the path containing the object that would generate the shadow.
Although the embodiments show thin film solar panels, single crystal solar cells, polycrystalline solar cells, the presented methods are also applicable to other types of solar panels, such as solar roof tiles or other forms of solar radiation collectors.
Although a single panel is shown, the presented method is also applicable to multiple solar panels mounted on a tower. The refractive-reflective sheet placed between adjacent towers helps to scatter and minimize the shadow of one tower on an adjacent tower, thus amplifying the power output of the adjacent tower.
The above-described embodiments are intended to be examples of the present invention and alterations and modifications may be effected thereto, by those of skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.
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