The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 18, 2024
Filed:
Jun. 14, 2020
The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund, New Orleans, LA (US);
Matthew David Escarra, New Orleans, LA (US);
Luke Artzt, New Orleans, LA (US);
Yaping Ji, New Orleans, LA (US);
Daniel Codd, New Orleans, LA (US);
Matthew Barrios, New Orleans, LA (US);
Kazi M. Islam, New Orleans, LA (US);
David M. Bar-On, New Orleans, LA (US);
Jacqueline C. Failla, New Orleans, LA (US);
Claire C. Davis, New Orleans, LA (US);
Maxwell W. Woody, New Orleans, LA (US);
THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND, New Orleans, LA (US);
Abstract
A hybrid receiver for a concentrator photovoltaic-thermal power system combines a concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) module and a thermal module that converts concentrated sunlight into electrical energy and thermal heat. Heat transfer fluid flowing through a cooling block removes waste heat generated by photovoltaic cells in the CPV module. The heat transfer fluid then flows through a helical tube illuminated by sunlight that misses the CPV module. Only one fluid system is used to both remove the photovoltaic-cell waste heat and capture high-temperature thermal energy from sunlight. Fluid leaving the hybrid receiver can have a temperature greater than 200° C., and therefore may be used as a source of process heat for a variety of commercial and industrial applications. The hybrid receiver can maintain the photovoltaic cells at temperatures below 110° C. while achieving overall energy conversion efficiencies exceeding 80%.