Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a nanofiber-based thermoelectric generator module, the method comprising: an electrode formation step of forming a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes so as to be spaced apart from and opposite to each other in an alternately staggered arrangement relative to each other; a first nanofiber arrangement step of arranging a first nonofiber including an n-type or p-type semiconductor; and a second nanofiber arrangement step of arranging a second nonofiber including a semiconductor of a type different from the type of the semiconductor forming the first nanofiber, a nanofiber-based thermoelectric generator module manufactured by the method, and an electrospinning apparatus of manufacturing nanofibers for the nanofiber-based thermoelectric generator module.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solar cell module includes: a casing including a wall; a box made of a resin and attached to the casing, the box including a terminal accommodating part; a cable configured to connect an external part, an end part of the cable introduced to the box; and a terminal fitting, accommodated in the terminal accommodating part, the terminal fitting connected to the cable and an output conductor, wherein: the wall is formed with a first opening for attaching the box from an outer surface side; the terminal accommodating part is formed with a second opening at a position opposed to the wall; and the second opening faces an inner part of the casing through the first opening when the box is attached to the casing.

Abstract: A shading textile is characterized in that it comprises a plurality of strip-shaped photovoltaic lamellas which, aligned next to one another or spaced apart from one another in their longitudinal direction, form a continuous product by means of a yarn system, wherein the yarn system is designed to be elastic in at least one direction, so that by tensioning the shading textile, a spacing between adjacent photovoltaic elements can be varied perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A photovoltaic intensification system includes a solar array stand, further including a mounting base; a mounting column; a solar array frame, a solar array, solar array lenses or reflectors, a light sensor, an elevation actuator, and a horizontal actuator; and a solar system cart, further including: a cart enclosure, a radiant solar cooker chamber, cart reflectors, and cart wheels. Further included are a vertical tilt ring, a strong-arm rod, a mass pivot rod, an elevation actuating ring, a horizontal tilt ring, and mounting brackets. A power and control system for photovoltaic intensification further includes a battery charger, a battery, an A/C inverter, a solar control unit, a remote control, a thermo electric freezer component, and a heat exchanger. A solar control unit includes a light sensor control circuit and a temperature control circuit, or a processor, a non-transitory memory, an input/output, an actuator controller, and a temperature controller.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate of first conductivity type, including first and second principal surfaces; a region of the first conductivity type, including a semiconductor layer structure of the first conductivity type provided on the first principal surface; and a region of an second conductivity type, including a semiconductor layer structure of the second conductivity type provided on the first principal surface. The semiconductor layer structure of the first conductivity type is formed extending into the region of the second conductivity type. Thereby the solar cell is provided with a stack region where the semiconductor layer structure of the second conductivity type is formed on the semiconductor layer structure of the first conductivity type.

Abstract: A solar cell of the present invention includes a collecting electrode extending in one direction on a first principal surface of a photoelectric conversion section. The collecting electrode includes first and second electroconductive layers in this order from the photoelectric conversion section side, and further includes an insulating layer provided with openings between the electroconductive layers. The first electroconductive layer is covered with the insulating layer, and the second electroconductive layer is partially in conduction with the first electroconductive layer through the openings of the insulating layer. The first electroconductive layer has non-central portions within a range from both ends of the first electroconductive layer, and a central portion between the two non-central portions, in a direction orthogonal to an extending direction of the first electroconductive layer. A density of openings at the central portion is higher than a density of openings at the non-central portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method for manufacturing, and a structure for a thin film solar module. The method of manufacturing includes fabricating a thin film solar cell and fabricating an electronic conversion unit (ECU) on a single substrate. The thin film solar cell has at least one solar cell diode on a substrate. The ECU has at least one transistor on the substrate. The ECU may further comprise a capacitor and an inductor. The ECU is integrated on the substrate monolithically and electrically connected with the thin film solar cell. The ECU and the thin film solar cell interconnect to form a circuit on the substrate. The ECU is electrically connected to a microcontroller on the solar cell module.

Abstract: Provided is a thermoelectric module apparatus including: a pipe-shaped housing having a hole that is longitudinally formed; a thermoelectric module coupled to the housing; and heat sinks combined with the thermoelectric module, in which the pipe-shaped housing has a plurality of mount holes having predetermined width and length, longitudinally extending, and arranged circumferentially in parallel with each other, the thermoelectric module has a plurality of thermoelectric plates having predetermined width, length, and thickness, the housing is connected to first sides in the width direction of the thermoelectric plates, the thermoelectric plates are disposed in the mount holes respectively with a portion in the width direction inserted and exposed inside the hole as much as a predetermined width and a portion in the width direction protruding and exposed outside the housing as much as a predetermined width, and the heat sinks are connected to the portions exposed outside the housing.

Abstract: [Object] Provided is a thermoelectric power generating device that is able to decrease thermal distortion of thermoelectric conversion modules and to upsize the thermoelectric conversion modules, thereby making it possible to simplify a manufacturing operation and to decrease a manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A hybrid device (80) comprises, in a first zone (91), at least one thermoelectric element (3) allowing an electric current to be generated from a temperature gradient applied between two of its active faces (4a, 4p). The device (80) further comprises a first circuit (1) able to allow the circulation of a first fluid, and a second circuit (2) able to allow the circulation of a second fluid of a temperature lower than that of the first fluid so as to create the gradient. The device (80) also comprises a second zone (92) so as to allow an exchange of heat between the second fluid and the first fluid. The device (80) is designed so that the first fluid passes through it by travelling in a single direction, referred to as first direction (L), wherein the first zone (91) and the second zone (92) are situated in series in the first direction (L).

Abstract: A thermophotovoltaic (TPV) converter includes spectrally-selective metamaterial emitters disposed on peripheral walls of an all-metal box-like enclosure, and associated photovoltaic (PV) cells configured to efficiently convert in-band photons having optimal conversion spectrums into electricity. The peripheral walls surround a substantially rectangular interior cavity having an inlet opening through which heat energy (e.g., concentrated sunlight) is supplied, and an outlet opening through which waste heat exits the cavity. Concentrated sunlight passing through the box-like enclosure heats the peripheral walls to a high temperature (i.e., above 1000° K), causing thermally excited surface plasmons generated on the emitters' concentric circular ridges to produce highly-directional radiant energy beams having a peak emission wavelength roughly equal to a fixed grating period separating the ridges.

Abstract: A solar power system includes a sunlight concentrating system (e.g., a heliostat), a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) converter and a thermal power system. The TPV converter includes a metamaterial emitter formed on a box-like enclosure, and an associated photovoltaic (PV) cell. The sunlight concentrating system directs the concentrated sunlight through an inlet opening of the box-like enclosure to heat the metamaterial emitter above 1000° K. Bull's eye structures formed on outward-facing surfaces of the box-like enclosure utilize concentric circular ridges spaced at a fixed grating period that, when heated, generate a radiant energy beam having a peak emission wavelength roughly equal to the grating period. The PV cell converts the radiant energy to produce primary electrical energy. Unconverted solar “waste” heat energy exits the box-like enclosure and is converted by the thermal power system (e.g., using a steam generator) to produce secondary electrical energy.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating solar cell emitter regions with differentiated P-type and N-type regions architectures, and resulting solar cells, are described. In an example, a back contact solar cell includes a substrate having a light-receiving surface and a back surface. A first polycrystalline silicon emitter region of a first conductivity type is disposed on a first thin dielectric layer disposed on the back surface of the substrate. A second polycrystalline silicon emitter region of a second, different, conductivity type is disposed on a second thin dielectric layer disposed on the back surface of the substrate. A third thin dielectric layer is disposed laterally directly between the first and second polycrystalline silicon emitter regions. A first conductive contact structure is disposed on the first polycrystalline silicon emitter region. A second conductive contact structure is disposed on the second polycrystalline silicon emitter region.

Abstract: A concentrator photovoltaic module including: a flexible printed circuit provided in contact with a bottom surface of a housing; and a primary concentrating portion formed by a plurality of lens elements being arranged, each lens element concentrating sunlight, wherein the flexible printed circuit includes: an insulating base material and a conductive pattern; a plurality of power generating elements provided on the pattern, so as to correspond to the lens elements, respectively; a cover lay as a covering layer having insulating property and a low water absorption not higher than a predetermined value, the cover lay covering and sealing a conductive portion including the pattern on the insulating base material; and an adhesive layer having insulating property and a low water absorption not higher than the predetermined value, the adhesive layer bonding the insulating base material and the covering layer together.

Abstract: Nanoscale thermocouples are made of a single material and are shape-engineered to contain one or more variations in their width along their length. The mono-metallic nanowire junctions resulting from the width variation(s) exploit a difference in the Seebeck coefficient that is present at these size scales. Such devices have a wide variety of uses and can be coupled with an antenna in order to serve as an infrared detector.

Abstract: The present invention is premised upon a system and method for an improved photovoltaic cladding device array with an interface member (500) for use on a building structure with other non-solar cladding materials (600). The interface member is disposed under a portion of the photovoltaic cladding elements (P) and includes a photovoltaic cladding element nesting portion and a building sheatin nesting portion.

Abstract: A solar panel installation includes at least one support cable and at least two support structures configured to hold the at least one support cable in suspension therebetween. The solar panel installation includes at least one solar module having a frame and at least one cable retaining structure secured to the frame. The at least one support cable is configured to support the solar module aloft when the at least one support cable is being held in suspension between the first and the second anchor. The solar module is configured to be slid along the at least one support cable between the support structures when the solar module is being held aloft by the at least one support cable.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to integrated grounding for solar modules and electrical wire management, and more specifically, to grounding clips and tabs that are integrated into solar module racking systems.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes a photoanode including a semiconductor layer and dye molecules located on the semiconductor layer; a counter electrode facing the photoanode; and an electrolyte medium located between the photoanode and the counter electrode, wherein each of the dye molecules is represented by a general formula [I] below where R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 8 or more carbon atoms; R9 represents an alkylene group or an aralkylene group; and Y2 represents an acidic group.

Abstract: Provided is a hole-transporting compound having a novel structure, and more particularly, a hole-transporting compound for an inorganic/organic hybrid perovskite solar cell. An inorganic/organic hybrid perovskite-based solar cell using the hole-transporting compound according to the present invention has significantly high power generation efficiency.