SOLAR PANELS FOR RECEIVING SCATTERED LIGHT
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to solar panels to generate electrical energy. In particular, solar panels configured to efficiently receive scattered light are disclosed.
This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/506,543, filed on Jul. 21, 2009, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional. Application. Ser. No. 61/084,605, filed Jul. 29, 2008, and titled “Solar Panels for Receiving Scattered Light”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND1. Field:
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to solar panels to generate electrical energy. In particular, solar panels configured to efficiently receive scattered light, such as during cloudy weather, are disclosed.
2. Information:
Energy generation is of paramount importance to a developed country and its society. Petroleum-based energy sources are diminishing so that alternative sources of energy are becoming increasingly important. Among such alternative energy sources, solar energy generation holds promise to be an important candidate as a primary source of energy. Solar energy may be generated by solar panels, which include semiconductor materials configured in a solar cell to generate'electrical energy and arranged in an array to sum the energy generated by individual solar cells. Among at least several reasons for this promising energy source: sunlight is virtually unlimited and free, and material for producing solar energy-generating panels is relatively inexpensive. On the other side of the coin, sunlight is available in limited quantities in many regions of the globe due to prevailing weather patterns that produce cloudy skies, which block a portion of sunlight. Also, although materials for producing solar panels are relatively inexpensive, manufacturing solar panels may be relatively expensive due to processing costs. Accordingly, current limitations on the use of energy-generating solar panels include geographical location due to weather, and the deployed number of solar panels due to expense.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments will be described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subject matter. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure claimed subject matter.
Cloudy skies are often considered to produce less solar radiation than sunny skies. But such a simple comparison may be misleading. For example, cloudy skies may produce more solar radiation in an area that would have been a shadow if the skies were sunny. In other words, more solar radiation may reach such shadow areas via scattered sunlight from clouds. Without clouds, there may be no sunlight scattering to reach the shadow area—solar radiation may only reach areas and/or surfaces that are in direct line-of-sight of the sun during sunny weather.
In an embodiment, a solar panel, which may comprise one or more individual solar panels, may be configured in a three-dimensional shape to increase its overall surface area, while keeping its footprint area, that is, the coverage area on the earth surface or a rooftop for example, constant. Though surface area may be so increased, geometrical positioning of surfaces of such a three-dimensional shape may geometrically hinder sunlight from reaching these surfaces. However, scattered sunlight may not be so hindered since such sunlight may arrive from substantially all skyward directions, whereas non-scattered sunlight may come from one direction, the sun. Cloudy skies produce such scattered sunlight.
Particular embodiments herein describe three-dimensional solar panels including pyramidal shapes, but claimed subject matter is not so limited, since any three-dimensional solar panel may provide advantages of increased surface area while keeping a fixed footprint, as described above. Herein, the term solar panels refers to a panel in a macroscopic sense, e.g., a panel that may be placed on a rooftop as suggested above, for example.
Perimeter 260 of solar panel 200 may define a surface area, which may include the footprint of solar panels 200. Such a footprint, and it's meaning, is described above. A height “h” of solar panel 200 may be determined to optimize solar gain. For example, if “h” is too large, then solar panel surface area may be large but solar radiation may not reach lower portions of solar panel 200 (e.g., near apex 560, as shown in
Solar panel 200 may be placed next to one or more similarly-shaped solar panels. For example,
Individual solar panels 210, 220, 230, and 240 may be coupled to one another electrically and/or mechanically, or such panels may be configured so that their respective electrical connections are separate. In a particular embodiment, one or more of individual solar panels 210, 220, 230, and 240 may be connected to one another along their respective edges. In another particular embodiment, individual solar panels 210, 220, 230, and 240 may be spaced apart and/or not connected to one another.
In another embodiment, solar panels 210, 220, 230, and 240 may comprise a single, or one or more solar panels. Such a single solar panel, for example, may be curved or bent to produce a pyramidal shape.
In an embodiment a “three-dimensional” solar panel 200 has an increased solar: receiving surface area compared to a flat solar panel 100 for a given perimeter area. Perimeter area, or footprint area, in this context may refer to an area of earth or roofing, for example, that either solar panel may cover. For example, in a particular embodiment, solar panel 200 may comprise a square pyramid having a height “h” and a square base with sides of length “s”. In such a case, the area of the base is s2, which may be the same area as a flat solar panel 100 with a side of length “s”. But in the case of a pyramid shape, we have an additional area term, which is s(s2+4h2)1/2. Accordingly, we may double, for example, the solar-gaining surface area of a solar panel by going from a flat solar panel 100 to a three-dimensional solar panel 200. Other shapes of solar panel are possible, such as a three-sided pyramid, and/or pyramids that do not necessarily have planer portions (e.g., sides. In other words, the sides of a pyramid may be curved or sagging, or faceted, for example): and so on, and claimed subject matter is not limited to a pyramidal shape. One may be concerned with an efficiency of packing in a two-dimensional space, for example, how tight can we pack our three-dimensional solar panels on a rooftop or the ground? Four and three-sided pyramids may be packed with 100% efficiency (see
The idea of increasing solar gain is to increase surface area of solar panels while keeping the solar panels' footprint constant—this may include configuring solar panels with a third dimension, such as a depth. Pyramidal shapes compared to squares or triangles, for example, do this. And the pyramidal shapes may include angular sides to increase solar reception, compared to sides that are parallel to each other and do not pick up solar radiation as well.
In an embodiment, three-dimensional solar panels may comprise a shape similar to that of an egg carton, including the concave depression. Such an egg carton configuration is found in foam mattresses and packaging, for example. Three-dimensional solar panels may also use such a shape. Of course, this is merely an example, and claimed subject matter is not so limited.
If cloudy skies yield lower levels of solar radiation, then we can compensate by utilizing three-dimensional solar panels that have increased surface area compared to flat solar panels. Three-dimensional solar panels may not work as efficiently as flat solar panels positioned towards the sun during cloudless, sunny skies, but three-dimensional solar panels may work more efficiently than flat solar panels during cloudy skies.
Three-dimensional solar panels may actually provide an advantage to having cloudy skies compared to sunny skies: Flat solar panels generally require mechanical means to position the flat solar panels so that their surface is substantially perpendicular to the solar rays. Such positioning may be readjusted continuously throughout the day, as the sun changes position in the sky. Such mechanical means may be costly. On the other hand, three-dimensional solar panels need not be positioned to optimize their solar radiation reception because they work with cloudy days that produce scattered radiation. Accordingly, three-dimensional solar panels may not need any mechanical means to readjust their position relative to the position of the sun in the (cloudy) sky.
Solar panel 500, for example, may be laid flat during cloudless, sunny skies, when sunlight is substantially collimated. In this case, a flattened solar panel 500, as shown in either
In another embodiment, such three-dimensional solar panels, as shown in
In another embodiment, such three-dimensional solar panels, as shown in
In another embodiment, such three-dimensional solar panels, as shown in
In an embodiment, such three-dimensional solar panels, as shown in
In an embodiment, such three-dimensional solar panels, as shown in
In an embodiment, such three-dimensional solar panels, as shown in
It should be understood that, although particular embodiments have been described, claimed subject matter is not limited in scope to a particular embodiment or implementation. Though the word “panel” is used, it should be understood that panel in the context of this disclosure is not limited to, a plane structure, unless explicitly described as so. Further, a panel may comprise one or more individual units, be built from one or more separate structures, and/or comprise a single structure with folds and/or bends to result in a three-dimensional structure. Claimed subject matter is not so limited.
It should be understood that solar panel may refer to a material and/or a structure that is able to generate energy, particularly electricity, from light. Such light may be natural, as in sunlight, or artificial. Also, the term “solar” in “solar energy” should be understood to not be limited to that pertaining to the sun. Artificial light may apply in this context as well.
While there has been illustrated and described what are presently considered to be example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from claimed subject matter. Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of claimed subject matter without departing from the central concept described herein. Therefore, it is intended that claimed subject matter not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that such claimed subject matter may also include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A solar energy collecting system comprising:
- two or more substantially planer portions that assemble to form a three dimensional solar panel configuration so that a surface area to accommodate photovoltaic cells on said three dimensional solar panel configuration is substantially greater than a footprint area of said three dimensional solar panel configuration.
2. The solar energy collecting system of claim 1, wherein said footprint area comprises an area of a projection in any direction of said three dimensional solar panel configuration onto a geometric plane.
3. The solar energy collecting system of claim 1, wherein said three dimensional solar panel configuration comprises at least a portion of an n-sided pyramid, where n equals three or more.
4. The solar energy collecting system of claim 3, wherein said substantially planer portions have a shape comprising a triangular shape or a truncated triangular shape so that said substantially planer portions fit together to, form at least a portion of said n-sided pyramid.
5. The solar energy collecting system of claim 3, further comprising:
- placing said photovoltaic cells on an inward side of said three dimensional solar panel configuration.
6. The solar energy collecting, system of claim 1, wherein said three dimensional solar panel configuration comprises at least a portion of a cone comprising a substantially circular or substantially oval cross-section.
7. The solar energy collecting system of claim 1, wherein said substantially planer portions comprise relatively thin sheet-like panels.
8. The solar energy collecting system of claim 1, wherein an assembly of said planar portions comprises ridges individually formed by pairs of said planar portions.
9. A three-dimensional solar panel comprising:
- as assembly of three or more relatively thin panels on which are mounted'one or more photovoltaic cells, wherein at least three of said three or more panels are individually oriented to respectively receive light from different directions and are angled with respect to one another so that geometric lines normal to said three or more panels comprise two or more substantially nonparallel lines.
10. The three-dimensional solar panel of claim 9, wherein said assembly of three or more relatively thin panels has a shape comprising at least a portion of a three-sided pyramid.
11. The three-dimensional solar panel of claim 9, wherein said assembly of three or more relatively thin panels has a shape comprising at least a portion of a three-sided pyramid having a height so as to have a greater surface area than that of a four- or more-sided pyramid having said height.
12. The three-dimensional solar panel of, claim 9, wherein said three-dimensional solar panel is free from light-focusing elements.
13. A method comprising:
- grouping portions of a solar panel configuration including solar panels comprising particular shapes that fit together to form a substantially pyramidal shape, wherein surfaces on an inward or outward side of said pyramidal shape comprise active regions of said solar panels to generate electricity in response to receiving light.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said particular shapes comprise substantially triangular shapes or truncated triangular shapes.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
- assembling said solar panels together to form said pyramidal shape by folding or unfolding said solar panels with respect to one another.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein said pyramidal shape comprises a three-sided pyramidal shape.
17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
- mounting said pyramidal shape to a substantially vertical surface.
18. A method comprising:
- generating electrical energy by receiving a portion of sunlight impinging on photovoltaic cells, wherein said sunlight comprises scattered sunlight scattered by clouds; and
- generating electrical energy by receiving another portion of sunlight impinging on said photovoltaic cells, wherein said sunlight comprises collimated light from the sun, wherein said portion is greater than said another portion.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
- changing a shape of a surface on which said photovoltaic cells are mounted in response to sunlight conditions.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said sunlight conditions include one or more of clear, sunny, cloudy, hazy, smoky, and foggy.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 6, 2011
Publication Date: Jul 28, 2011
Inventor: Brian D. Wichner (Otter Rock, OR)
Application Number: 13/081,420
International Classification: H01L 31/042 (20060101); H01L 31/18 (20060101);