Abstract
The present invention relates to an optomechanical system (1) for converting light energy, comprising an optical arrangement (40) comprising one or more optical layers (41, 42), wherein at least one of the optical layers (41,42) comprises a plurality of primary optical elements (47) to concentrate incident light (80) into transmit ted light (90), wherein the primary optical elements (47) are arranged in a two-dimensional rectangular or hexagonal array; a support layer (50); a shifting mechanism (60) for moving at least one of the optical layers (41, 42) of the optical arrangement (40) relative to the support layer (50) or vice versa; and a frame element (10) to which either the optical arrangement (40) or the support layer (50) is attached, wherein the support layer (50) comprises a plurality of primary light energy conversion elements (51) arranged in a two-dimensional array corresponding to the arrangement of the primary optical elements (47) and a plurality of secondary light energy conversion elements (52), wherein the primary light energy conversion elements (51) and the secondary light energy conversion elements (52) are capable of converting the energy of transmitted light (90) into an output energy and wherein the primary light energy conversion elements (51) and the secondary light energy conversion elements (52), differ by type, and/or surface area, and/or light conversion efficiency, and/or light conversion spectrum and wherein the shifting mechanism (60) is arranged to move at least one of the layers of the optical arrangement (40) or the support layer (50) translationally relative to the frame element (10), through one or more translation element (65, 65) in such a way that the total output power of the primary light energy conversion elements (51) and of the secondary light energy conversion elements (52) is adjustable. The invention concerns also a method for converting light energy with an optomechanical system according to the present invention
Claims
1. An optomechanical system for converting light energy, comprising: an optical arrangement comprising one or more optical layers, wherein at least one of the optical layers comprises a plurality of primary optical elements adapted to concentrate incident light into transmitted light, wherein the primary optical elements are arranged in a two-dimensional rectangular or hexagonal array; a support layer; a shifting mechanism for moving at least one of the optical layers of the optical arrangement relative to the support layer or vice versa; and a frame element to which either the optical arrangement or the support layer is attached, wherein the support layer comprises a plurality of primary light energy conversion elements arranged in a two-dimensional array corresponding to the arrangement of the primary optical elements and a plurality of secondary light energy conversion elements, wherein the primary light energy conversion elements and the secondary light energy conversion elements are capable of converting energy of transmitted light into an output energy, and wherein the primary light energy conversion elements and the secondary light energy conversion elements differ by type, and/or surface area, and/or light conversion efficiency, and/or light conversion spectrum, and wherein the shifting mechanism is arranged to move at least one of the layers of the optical arrangement or the support layer translationally relative to the frame element, through one or more translation element in such a way that a total output power of the primary light energy conversion elements and of the secondary light energy conversion elements is adjustable.
2-8: (canceled)
9. The optomechanical system according to claim 1, wherein the primary light energy conversion elements are photovoltaic cells and the secondary light energy conversion elements are thermal solar collectors.
10. The optomechanical system according to claim 1, wherein the secondary light energy conversion elements are provided with holes into which the primary light energy conversion elements are placed and wherein the secondary light energy conversion elements cover a surface of the support layer between the primary light energy conversion elements.
11. The optomechanical system according to claim 1, wherein the support layer comprises a primary support layer and a secondary support layer mounted on top of each other in direction of the optical arrangement, wherein the primary support layer carries the primary light energy conversion elements and the secondary support layer carries the secondary light energy conversion elements.
12-13: (canceled)
14. The optomechanical system according to claim 13, wherein the primary support layer is composed of multiple tiles of transparent dielectric, which are first populated with said primary light energy conversion elements before being laminated side-by-side on said secondary support layer, which is larger than said primary support layer and is made of a transparent dielectric, to form the complete primary support layer.
15-17: (canceled)
18. The optomechanical system according to claim 11, wherein the primary support layer is provided with holes arranged such that at least part of the transmitted light reaches the secondary light energy conversion elements.
19. The optomechanical system according to claim 11, wherein the primary light energy conversion elements are interconnected by primary connection lines.
20. The optomechanical system according to claim 19, wherein the primary connection lines are provided on the support layer.
21. The optomechanical system according to claim 19, wherein the primary connection lines are made of a transparent conductive material.
22. The optomechanical system according to claim 1, wherein the secondary light conversion elements are interconnected by secondary connection lines with a geometry adapted to minimize energy losses due to shading and/or scattering.
23. The optomechanical system according to claim 1, wherein the output terminals of each of the primary light energy conversion elements are interconnected by electrically conductive lines with a combination of series and parallel connections, to provide a primary two-terminal output, and/or wherein the output terminals of each of the secondary light energy conversion elements are interconnected by electrically conductive lines with a combination of series and parallel connections, to provide a secondary two-terminal output.
24. The optomechanical system according to claim 23, wherein one of the output terminals of the primary light energy conversion elements and one of the output terminals of the secondary light energy conversion elements are connected, so that the optomechanical system is provided with a three-terminal output
25. The optomechanical system according to claim 23, wherein the output terminals of the primary and secondary light energy conversion elements are combined using power electronics so that the optomechanical system is provided with a two-terminal power output.
26-29: (canceled)
30. The optomechanical system to claim 1, further comprising one or more sliders, arranged between the support layer and the optical arrangement, and one or more pre-constraining elements.
31. The optomechanical system according to claim 30, further comprising sliding pads between a slider and a surface they are sliding on.
32. The optomechanical system according to claim 1, wherein the shifting mechanism further comprises one or more guiding elements adapted to limit the degrees of freedom of the optical arrangement and/or of the support layer.
33. The optomechanical system according to claim 32, wherein the one or more guiding elements are adapted to suppress any rotational movement between the optical arrangement and the support layer.
34-40: (canceled)
41. The optomechanical system according to claim 40, wherein the optical arrangement incorporates a venting system adapted to prevent excessive pressure to build up and/or water condensation to occur within the closed space defined by the frame element and the optical arrangement when the external conditions are changing.
42-45: (canceled)
46. The optomechanical system according to claim 1, wherein the frame is at least partially open at its bottom and a flexible membrane seals a gap between the translation element and the frame while allowing the translational element to move both laterally and vertically.
47. (canceled)
48. A method for converting light energy with the optomechanical system according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: concentrating said incident light into said transmitted light; converting the energy of the transmitted light into said output energy by means of the primary light energy conversion elements and the secondary light energy conversion elements; and moving at least one of the optical layers of the optical arrangement relative to the support layer or vice versa, wherein the shifting mechanism moves the at least one of the optical layers of the optical arrangement or the support layer translationally by said one or more translation element in such a way that the total output power of the primary light energy conversion elements and of the secondary light energy conversion elements is maximized.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0081] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in combination with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0082] FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the optical arrangement and of the support layer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where high directional light is impinging normally onto the optical arrangement;
[0083] FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the optical arrangement and of the support layer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where high directional light is impinging with a small incidence angle onto the optical arrangement;
[0084] FIG. 1C is a schematic cross-sectional view of the optical arrangement and of the support layer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where high directional light is impinging with a large incidence angle onto the optical arrangement;
[0085] FIG. 1D is a schematic cross-sectional view of the optical arrangement and of the support layer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where only diffuse light is present;
[0086] FIG. 2A presents a schematic side view of an arrangement of the primary light energy conversion elements and the secondary light energy conversion elements according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0087] FIG. 2B presents a schematic top view of an arrangement of the primary light energy conversion elements and the secondary light energy conversion elements according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
[0088] FIG. 2C presents a schematic side view of an arrangement of the primary light energy conversion elements and the secondary light energy conversion elements according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0089] FIG. 2D presents a schematic top view of an arrangement of the primary light energy conversion elements and the secondary light energy conversion elements according to the third embodiment of the present invention;
[0090] FIG. 2E presents a schematic side view of an arrangement of the primary light energy conversion elements and the secondary light energy conversion elements according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[0091] FIG. 2F presents a schematic top view of an arrangement of the primary light energy conversion elements and the secondary light energy conversion elements according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[0092] FIG. 2G presents a schematic side view of an arrangement of the primary light energy conversion elements and the secondary light energy conversion elements according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
[0093] FIG. 2H presents a schematic top view of an arrangement of the primary light energy conversion elements and the secondary light energy conversion elements according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;
[0094] FIG. 2I presents a schematic side view of an arrangement of the primary light energy conversion elements and the secondary light energy conversion elements according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
[0095] FIG. 2J presents a schematic side view of an arrangement of the primary light energy conversion elements and the secondary light energy conversion elements according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;
[0096] FIG. 3 shows a tiling of the optical arrangement with hexagonal primary optical elements, according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;
[0097] FIGS. 4A and 4B show secondary optical elements directly mounted on the primary light energy conversion elements according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;
[0098] FIG. 5 shows tertiary optical elements directly mounted on top of the primary light energy conversion elements according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;
[0099] FIG. 6 shows tertiary optical elements mounted on top of the connection lines of primary light energy conversion elements according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention;
[0100] FIG. 7 presents an architecture of the connection lines of the primary light energy conversion elements and of the secondary light energy conversion elements according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention;
[0101] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the optical arrangement and of the support layer according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, where the secondary light energy conversion elements are bifacial;
[0102] FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of an optomechanical system according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention;
[0103] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optomechanical system according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention where the optical arrangement comprises one movable optical layer and one static optical layer;
[0104] FIG. 11A is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optomechanical system according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention where the optical arrangement comprises only one static optical layer and the support layer is movable;
[0105] FIGS. 11B and 11C are schematic cross-sectional views of the shifting mechanism of an optomechanical system according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention (corresponding to FIG. 11A);
[0106] FIG. 12A is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optomechanical system according to a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention where the support layer is movable, and the optical arrangement comprises two static optical layers;
[0107] FIG. 12B is a detailed schematic cross-sectional view of the optical arrangement according to a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention where the optical arrangement is composed of two optical layers directly bonded together;
[0108] FIG. 12C is a detailed schematic cross-sectional view of the optical arrangement according to an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention where the optical arrangement is composed of two optical layers bonded together by means of an adhesive layer;
[0109] FIG. 12D is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optomechanical system according to a nineteenth embodiment of the present invention with a movable support layer and with sliders and a pre-constraining element to maintain a constant distance between the support layer and the optical arrangement.
[0110] FIG. 12E is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optomechanical system according to the same embodiment as FIG. 12D, but where the first optical layer is composed of several blocks in order to be able to increase the number of sliders.
[0111] FIG. 12F is a detailed schematic cross-sectional view of the optomechanical system according to a twentieth embodiment where sliding pads are arranged between the sliders and the optical arrangement;
[0112] FIG. 12G is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optomechanical system according to a twenty-first embodiment of the present invention with a movable support layer, attached directly to the optical arrangement by means of guiding elements;
[0113] FIG. 12H represents the same embodiment as FIG. 12G but where the movable support layer, attached directly to the optical arrangement by means of guiding elements, has been shifted by the shifting mechanism;
[0114] FIG. 12I represents the same embodiment as FIG. 12G but with a plurality of guiding elements and an optical layer composed of several blocks;
[0115] FIG. 12J is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optomechanical system according to a twenty-second embodiment of the present invention with a partially opened frame at the bottom;
[0116] FIG. 13A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the optical arrangement and of the support layer of the optomechanical system according to twenty-third embodiment of the present invention where the guiding elements are moulded with the optical arrangement;
[0117] FIG. 13B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the optical arrangement and of the support layer of the optomechanical system according to the same embodiment as FIG. 13A but where the optical arrangement has been shifted; and
[0118] FIG. 14 is a schematic top view of an optomechanical system according to a twenty-third embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0119] FIGS. 1A to 1D are schematic cross-sectional detailed views of a photovoltaic optomechanical system with hybrid architecture 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The photovoltaic optomechanical system with hybrid architecture 1 comprises a support layer 50 with the primary light energy conversion elements 51, here advantageously high-efficiency PV cells, and the secondary light energy conversion elements 52, advantageously here conventional PV cells based for instance on silicon technology, and an optical arrangement 40. The optical arrangement 40 comprises one primary optical layer 41 and one secondary optical layer 42. In this embodiment, the optical layer 42 takes the form of a cover that could be also omitted without departing from the frame of the present invention. In the case where the optical layer 42 is omitted, the optical layer 41 acts itself as cover. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, when the incident light 80 comprises a highly directional light component 81 which impinges normal to the optical layer 41 and the support layer 50, the optomechanical system 1 is configured such that the highly-directional light component incident light 81 is concentrated, by means of primary optical elements 47 of the optical arrangement, into transmitted light 91 which is focused on the high-efficiency solar cells 51. The diffuse incident light component 82 is only redirected by the primary optical elements 47 and impinges mainly on the traditional PV cells 52. As one can easily understand from this Figure, the present invention permits to capture and convert effectively light energy emerging from a high-directional light source, as the sun, but also light energy emerging from a diffuse light source, as the for instance the sky.
[0120] As shown in FIG. 1B, highly-directional incident light 81 with an incidence angle different than zero is still concentrated by the optical layer. Thanks to a shifting mechanism that is able to move the support layer 50 in the direction X, Y and Z (cf. below for more details on the possible embodiments of the shifting mechanism), the primary light energy conversion elements 51 are positioned at the focal points of the primary optical elements 47 of the optical arrangement 40 and can still collect most of the highly-directional light 81. Diffuse light 82 is as in the FIG. 1A mainly collected by the traditional PV cells 52.
[0121] As can be seen in FIG. 1C, at larger incidence angles, the primary optical elements 47 of the optical arrangement cannot focus the highly-directional incident light 81 solely on the high-efficiency PV cells 51 but a fraction of the energy of the highly-directional incident light 81 is captured and transformed by the secondary light energy conversion elements 52. With the PV cells 52, it is therefore possible to convert the light energy of the highly-directional light 81 even at very large incidence angles.
[0122] When incident light 80 is highly diffuse, i.e. the highly-directional component 81 of the incident light 80 is small, for instance on cloudy days, the optical arrangement 40 is unable to efficiently concentrate incident light 80 and the focal spots are much bigger than the primary light energy conversion elements 51. In this case, the shifting mechanism can position the support layer 50 in such a way that most of the incident light 80 is transmitted to and can be collected by the secondary light energy conversion elements 52, as illustrated in FIG. 1D.
[0123] Important to note is that the position of the support layer 50 can be changed during a day and/or according to the lighting condition. In order to find the best position of the layer 50, it is advantageous to foresee one or more feedback sensors for the monitoring of the power output of the primary and secondary light conversion elements 51 and 52. The position of the layer 50 can thus be modified by means of the shifting mechanism to maximize the power output.
[0124] As mentioned above, the support layer 50 comprises the primary light energy conversion elements 51 and the secondary light energy conversion elements 52. As shown in FIG. 2A-2F these elements can be positioned in the layer 50 of different manners. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the primary and secondary light energy conversion elements 51, 52 are mounted on the same substrate and thus in the same plane. Openings or cavities are machined into the secondary light energy conversion elements 52 for receiving the primary light energy conversion elements 51 without shading them. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2C and 2D, the support layer 50 is subdivided in a primary support layer 50a carrying the primary light energy conversion elements 51 and in a secondary support layer 50b carrying the secondary light energy conversion elements 52. In this embodiment, the primary support layer 50a takes the form of a grid-like substrate, which is mounted on top of the secondary support layer 50b and thus the secondary light energy conversion elements 52 and their encapsulation 56. The openings or slots in the primary support layer 50a allow transmitted light 91, 92 to reach the secondary light energy conversion elements 52. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2E and 2F, the primary light energy conversion elements 51 and their connection lines 53 are mounted on the primary support layer 50a that takes the form here of a transparent substrate, which is then assembled on top of the secondary support layer 50b and thus on top of the secondary light energy conversion elements 52 and their encapsulation. Advantageously, the connection lines 53 of the primary light energy conversion elements 51 are made of transparent electrically-conductive material, as for instance a conductive oxide. This permits to minimize the energy loss due to absorption of light energy by the connection lines 53. Advantageously, in all these embodiments, the primary support layer 50a is laminated on top of the secondary support layer 50b.
[0125] FIGS. 2G and 2H illustrate a further embodiment of the optomechanical system according to the present invention. Here, the primary light energy conversion elements 51 and secondary light energy conversion elements 52 are photovoltaic cells of the same type, wherein the primary light energy conversion elements 51 and secondary light energy conversion elements 52 differ in surface area and/or shape. In this embodiment, the primary and secondary light energy conversion elements 51,52 are preferably made from the same source wafer, which is then partitioned by trenches or slots to define the contours of the primary and secondary light energy conversion elements. The partitioning process advantageously defines smaller areas for the primary light energy conversion elements 51 primarily designed to convert highly-localized concentrated light, and larger areas for the secondary light energy conversion elements 52 primarily designed to convert diffuse and thus non-localized light. This embodiment is advantageous to manufacture both type of cells from the same source material, while still benefiting from the efficiency increase provided by light concentration on the primary light energy conversion elements 51). As can be seen in these Figures, the primary light energy conversion elements 51 are electrically interconnected by means of connection lines 53. Similarly, the secondary light energy conversion elements 52 are electrically interconnected by means of connection lines 54. In order to avoid a short circuit between the connection lines 53 and 54, a dielectric or an insulator 57 is arranged between them. Furthermore, an encapsulant 56 can be foreseen in order to isolate the light converting elements 51,52 and the connection lines from the surrounding.
[0126] FIGS. 2I and 2J illustrate a further embodiment of the optomechanical system 1 according to the present invention, wherein the primary light energy conversion elements 51 and the secondary light energy conversion elements 52 are photovoltaic cells of two different types. The primary light energy conversion elements 51 are selected to convert only part of the direct light 91, 91′ and 91″ transmitted by the optical layer 40, while the rest of the transmitted light is further transmitted to the secondary light energy conversion elements 52. In this embodiment, the connection lines 53 are designed to be highly transparent to the light not converted by the primary light energy conversion elements 51. Furthermore, the primary support layer 50a is made from a diffusive material as illustrated in FIG. 2I or provided with reflective elements 58 as shown in FIG. 2J designed to spread the transmitted light and increase the homogeneity of illumination on the secondary light energy conversion elements 52, in order to increase the light energy conversion efficiency.
[0127] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the optical arrangement 40 of the optomechanical system 1 comprises a plurality of primary optical elements 47 that can be foreseen in the first optical layer 41 and/or second optical layer 42. The primary optical elements can for instance be lenses or mirrors that have advantageously a hexagonal or a rectangular tiling contour. By this, the primary optical elements 47 can be arranged side-by-side and cover the entire surface of the optical arrangement 40 without any gaps.
[0128] A further preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, where secondary optical elements 48 are mounted directly on the primary light energy conversion elements 51. In FIG. 4A, the secondary optical elements 48 ensures a better collection of transmitted light 91 by the primary elements 51. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the optical elements 48 allows for the collection of a portion of the light 91 that would otherwise miss the primary light energy conversion element 51 and be lost or transmitted to the secondary light energy conversion elements 52, which are less efficient at converting light energy into another energy type.
[0129] As shown in FIG. 4B, the secondary optical elements 48 increase also the alignment tolerance between the optical arrangement 40 and the support layer. In case several primary light energy conversion elements 51 are mounted on the same substrate, the light concentrated and transmitted 91 by each primary optical element 47 of the optical arrangement 40 can be slightly misaligned. The secondary optical elements 48 allows for minimizing the losses related to the misalignment.
[0130] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, tertiary optical elements 49 can be arranged on top of the support layer 50, more precisely on opaque and thus not converting structures of the layer 50, in order to modify the path of transmitted light 90 and ensure optimal transmission to the secondary light energy conversion elements 52. Examples of opaque structures include some connection lines 53 provided to electrically interconnect the primary light energy conversion elements 51 in form of PV cells, or pads on which the primary light energy conversion elements 51 or other electrical components are assembled. Tertiary optical elements 49 of reflective or refractive type can be used to “mask” these opaque structures and improve transmission of transmitted light 90 to the secondary light energy conversion elements 52.
[0131] FIG. 7 displays a further embodiment of the present invention in which the geometries of interconnection lines 53, 54 of the primary, respectively secondary, light energy conversion elements 51, 52 are optimized in order to minimize shading and therefore maximize electrical current collection in the immediate vicinity of the primary light energy conversion elements 51. The interconnection lines 53 can be designed to be narrower in a region closed to the primary elements 51. Additionally, the connection lines 54, for instance a metallization grid, of the secondary elements 52 can have a square or circular shape around the primary elements 51, in order to minimize the path length from the illuminated area to these metallization lines. This is particularly advantageous when the focal spot formed by the transmitted light 91 is larger than the primary elements 51, and at least part of the transmitted light 91 is focused around the primary elements 51.
[0132] In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 8, the secondary light energy conversion elements 52 are designed to collect light from both faces (top and bottom) of the optomechanical system 1. The secondary light energy conversion elements 52 are, in that embodiment, bifacial and mounted on a transparent substrate 55 which allows diffuse or reflected light 82 incident on the back of the optomechanical system 1 to be collected by the secondary elements 52.
[0133] In all the embodiments above, the primary, secondary and tertiary optical elements 47, 48, 49 can be made of glass, PMMA (acrylic), PC, silicone, or any other transparent or translucent materials. These optical elements can also be prisms with reflective coating such as metallization. The reflective coating can be applied for instance by a chemical process. The reflective coating can also be made of a sheet of material bonded or glued to the optical elements. Alternatively, the optical elements 47, 48, 49 can be coated with anti-reflective coating to improve optical transmission.
[0134] Furthermore, in all embodiments of the present invention, the primary connection lines are advantageously deposited on the transparent dielectric substrate by one of the following methods: screen-printing of a high-conductivity paste, preferably a silver-epoxy paste with a high silver content (typically more than 80%), which is then cured or sintered at high temperature, a layer of Cu is glued onto the dielectric and then etched to form the required interconnection pattern or growth of a conductive layer (typically made of Copper) by electroplating.
[0135] As mentioned above, the optical arrangement 40 or the support layer 50 is advantageously mounted on a shifting mechanism in order to adapt the relative position of the primary optical elements 47 towards the primary light energy conversion elements 51 as a function of the angle of the incident light 80. Details of different embodiments of the shifting mechanism are presented below. Important to note is that all presented embodiments of the shifting mechanism can be implemented with the different embodiments of the optical arrangement 40 or of the support layer 50 presented above.
[0136] FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic top view of an optomechanical system 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. This optomechanical system 1 comprises the optical arrangement 40, the support layer 50 and a shifting mechanism 60.
[0137] As can be seen in FIG. 9, the shifting mechanism 60 comprises, in this embodiment, a translation element 65, one actuator 25 and two guiding elements 26. The optical arrangement 40, which comprises in this embodiment only a first optical layer 41, is mounted on the translation element 65, while the support layer 50 is fixed to a frame 10. Thanks to guiding elements 26, the translation element 65 can move the optical arrangement 40 only in translation along the direction W. In other words, the shifting mechanism 60 is arranged to move the translation element 65 translationally with one degree of freedom.
[0138] The frame element 10 is an outer frame of the optomechanical system 1. In some embodiments, it is preferable that the frame element 10 surrounds entirely the optical arrangement 40, the support layer 50 and the shifting mechanism 60. The frame element 10 can be made from metal material such as aluminium, steel, stainless steel, or polymers such as ABS. The outer frame can be mounted for instance on areas such as commercial or residential rooftops solar rack mounts or attached on single or dual-axis tracker structures (e.g. on utility-scale power plants).
[0139] FIG. 10 shows an optomechanical system 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the components 50 and 60 are encapsulated within a box formed by the frame element 10 and the optical arrangement 40. In this embodiment, the optomechanical system 1 comprises an optical arrangement 40 with two optical layers 41 and 42. The second optical layer 42 and the support layer 50 are here attached to the frame element 10 and not movable. The attachment of the second optical layer 42 to the frame element 10 may be done through one or more joint 12. The first optical layer 41 of the optical arrangement 40 is mounted on the translation element 65. Thanks to the translation element 65, the first optical layer 41 can be moved translationally in the direction W through the actuation of the actuator 25. A guiding element 26 restricts the degrees of freedom of the translation element 65, so that it can only move in translation in the direction W.
[0140] FIGS. 11A to 11C illustrate an optomechanical system 1 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the optical arrangement 40 comprises only the first optical layer 41, which is not movable due to its attachment to the frame element 10 through one or more joints 12. The support layer 50 is mounted on a translation element 65. The translation element 65 of the shifting mechanism 60 is actuated by one actuator 25 and guided by a guiding element 26. FIGS. 11B and 11C are two detailed views from the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 11A. As can be seen in these detailed views, thanks to the actuator 25 and the guiding element 26, the translation element 65 is moved translationally in a linear direction W.
[0141] FIG. 12A illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment of the FIG. 11A, except that the optical arrangement 40 is composed of the first and second optical layers 41 and 42. In this embodiment, both layers of the optical arrangement 40 are attached to the frame element 10 through one or more joints 12, and hence are not movable. The support layer 50 is attached to the translation element 65. Thanks to the actuator 25 and the guiding element 26, the support layer 50 mounted on the translation element 65 can be moved translationally in the direction W, as depicted in the FIG. 11C.
[0142] In all the above-presented embodiments, the second optical layer 42 of the optical arrangement 40 has advantageously good optical properties, thus allowing for high light transmission, and good mechanical properties, to protect the optomechanical system from mechanical shocks or environmental pollution. For instance, the second optical layer 42 can be made of glass, PMMA (acrylic) or polycarbonate (PC). Of course, other suitable materials can also be used to manufacture this optical layer.
[0143] Flexible expansion joints 12 can be used to connect the first and second optical layers 41, 42 of the optical arrangement 40 to the frame element 10 in order to accommodate thermal expansion coefficients mismatches between the optical layers 41, 42 and the frame element 10.
[0144] The optomechanical system 1 of the above-presented embodiments of the present invention may comprise a venting system (not shown on the Figures), composed of one or more pressure equalization membranes, and incorporated into the frame element 10. The pressure equalization membranes can be made of rubber or GoreTex® material, for example. The advantage of a venting system is to regulate the pressure and humidity of the air enclosed within the frame element 10, in order to ensure that the optomechanical system 1 of the present invention can function in the most efficient manner.
[0145] FIGS. 12B and 12C illustrate two further embodiments of the present invention where the optical arrangement 40 is composed of the first and second optical layers 41 and 42 attached together. In FIG. 12B, the two optical layers 41, 42 are directly bonded together, for instance by injection moulding, or using a plasma activation process. The two optical layers 41, 42 can also be bonded together by means of an intermediate adhesive layer 45, as for example silicone glue or UV cured acrylic glue, as depicted in FIG. 12C.
[0146] Thanks to the direct bonding of the first and second optical layers 41 and 42, it is possible, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, to implement a plurality of sliders 27 that ensure, in combination with one or a plurality of pre-constraining elements 28, that the distance between the support layer 50 and the optical arrangement 40 is constant over the whole optomechanical system, as shown in FIG. 12D. The pre-constraining elements 28 can for instance be springs or leaf springs. The number of sliders 27 is typically at least three in the direction of movement of the actuator 25 and increases with the size/surface of the panel. In order to accommodate a plurality of sliders, the first optical layer 41 of the optical arrangement 40 can be made of several blocks as illustrated in FIG. 12E.
[0147] The sliders 27 can slide directly on the surface of one of the layers of the optical system 1, if necessary with the addition of a coating to reduce friction, or according to a further embodiment of the present invention they can slide on flat or curved sliding pads 29, as shown in FIG. 12F. The curvature of the sliding pads 29 can be used to change the distance between the support layer 50 and the optical arrangement 40 when the translation element 65 is moved laterally.
[0148] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the support layer 50 is directly attached to the optical arrangement 40 by means of guiding elements 26, as shown in FIG. 12G. In this case, the guiding elements 26 can be flexible guiding elements such as leaf springs, or any suitable type of flexible elements such as double ball joints, double magnetic ball joints or double universal joints (double cardan joints). As illustrated in FIG. 12H, the guiding elements are designed in such a way that when the linear actuator 25 pushes or pulls the translation element 65 in the direction W, the support layer 50, mounted on the translation element 65, moves along a curved trajectory W′, for instance a portion of a paraboloid or a spherical trajectory. In other words, the guiding elements 26 transform the linear movement of the actuator 25 into a curved movement of the translation element 65.
[0149] Similarly, to the embodiment with the sliders 27, a plurality of flexible guiding elements 26 can be implemented in the present embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 12I. In order to accommodate a plurality of flexible guiding elements, the first optical layer 41 of the optical arrangement 40 is made of several blocks.
[0150] According to a further embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 12J, the frame 10 is at least partially open at the bottom and replaced by a flexible membrane 15. In this embodiment, the translation element 65 (and with it the support layer 50) are directly exposed to ambient temperature and heat can therefore be dissipated by convection. The flexible membrane 15 seals the gaps between the translation element 65 and the frame 10, while allowing the translation element 65 to move both laterally and vertically.
[0151] FIGS. 13A and 13B show another embodiment of the present invention in which the flexible guiding elements 26 can be foreseen as integral parts of the optical arrangement 40. As illustrated in FIG. 13B, the flexible guiding elements 26 can advantageously be designed such that the optical arrangement 40 is moved along a curved trajectory W′ when the shifting mechanism 60 is actuated. The flexible guiding elements 26 can be attached to the support layer 50 by various means, including gluing, clamping or direct moulding onto the support layer 50.
[0152] FIG. 14 illustrates that, according to a further embodiment of the present invention, the shifting mechanism 60 comprises three actuators 25, two of which are disposed in parallel on the same axis W but at opposite ends of the translation element 65, and a third one in a direction normal to the first two. This configuration permits to control and cancel any parasitic rotation Y of the translation element 65 around the axis Z.
[0153] It goes without saying that the shifting mechanism 60 as shown in all embodiments of the present invention is capable of moving either one of the optical layers 41 or 42 of the optical arrangement 40 or the support layer 50 translationally in one, two or three degrees of freedom relative to the frame element 10, thereby enabling the primary and secondary light energy elements 51 and 52 to collect transmitted light 90 optimally.
[0154] The different configurations of the present invention allow the translation element 65 of the optomechanical system 1 to perform only small strokes, ranging from for example from a few micrometres to a few centimetres. Such displacements are typically at least two orders of magnitude smaller than the outer size of the optomechanical system 1. The displacements could be for example of the same order of magnitude as the size of the primary optical elements 47. The displacements are limited to translational movements along one, two or three axes (with one, two or three degrees of freedom). Rotations are blocked or cancelled by means of a specific disposition of the guiding elements 26 combined with an arrangement of one or more actuator 25.
[0155] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain from the foregoing description the essential characteristics of the present disclosure, while various changes and modifications may be made to adapt the various uses and characteristics as set forth in the following claims.
[0156] A person skilled in the art will understand that when reference is made to the type of the primary light energy conversion elements and/or the secondary light energy conversion elements, one of the following types of photovoltaic cells can be meant: Amorphous Silicon solar cell (a-Si), Biohybrid solar cell, Cadmium telluride solar cell (CdTe), Copper indium gallium selenide solar cells (CI(G)S), Crystalline silicon solar cell (c-Si), Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), Gallium arsenide germanium solar cell (GaAs), Hybrid solar cell, Monocrystalline solar cell (mono-Si), Single-junction solar cell (SJ), Multi-junction solar cell (MJ), Nanocrystal solar cell, Organic solar cell (OPV), Perovskite solar cell, Photoelectrochemical cell (PEC), Plasmonic solar cell, Polycrystalline solar cell (multi-Si), Quantum dot solar cell, Solid-state solar cell, Thin-film solar cell (TFSC), unidirectional solar cell, bifacial solar cell.
REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0157] 1 optomechanical system
[0158] 10 frame element
[0159] 12 joint
[0160] 15 flexible membrane
[0161] 25 actuator
[0162] 26,26′ guiding element
[0163] 27 sliders
[0164] 28 pre-constraining element
[0165] 29 sliding elements
[0166] 30 guiding module
[0167] 40 optical arrangement
[0168] 41 first optical layer
[0169] 42 second optical layer
[0170] 45 adhesive layer
[0171] 47 primary optical element
[0172] 48 secondary optical element
[0173] 49 tertiary optical element
[0174] 50 support layer
[0175] 50a primary support layer
[0176] 50b secondary support layer
[0177] 51 primary light energy conversion element
[0178] 52 secondary light energy conversion element
[0179] 53 primary connection lines
[0180] 54 secondary connection lines
[0181] 55 transparent substrate
[0182] 56 encapsulant
[0183] 57 insulator
[0184] 58 reflective element
[0185] 60 shifting mechanism
[0186] 65 translation element
[0187] 66 intermediate translation element
[0188] 67 mobile attachment point
[0189] 70 transparent cover
[0190] 80 incident light
[0191] 90 transmitted light
