METHOD TO INCREASE ELECTRICAL PRODUCTION OF SOLAR CELLS, SOLAR CELL PANELS, AND SOLAR CELL MODULES

Abstract

An improved method of at least one of providing increased solar cell/solar panel/solar module (a solar member) electrical production abilities and of providing some increased solar member cooling abilities by at least one of applying/providing a coating, as disclosed herein, directly to and/or within the back-sheet of, a solar member, which coating can one of modify, reflect, and scatter light-waves in a manner advantageous for solar members to produce more electricity than otherwise, and which coating can optionally be applied to the front of a separate surface which is within six meters of a solar member.

Claims

1. A method of increasing electrical output of a solar member, the solar member comprising a solar cell, or a solar panel, or a solar module, the method comprising: disposing a coating on one at least one of the back-side and the back-sheet of a solar member, and/or on a surface of a substrate positioned behind, below and/or near the solar member, wherein optionally the surface of the substrate is reflective, wherein the coating comprises: a first component comprising: at least one of, in crushed and/or powdered form: obsidian, salt, sea salt, silicon dioxide, limestone, sandstone, granite, cement, quartz, white quartz, light colored sand, a prism material, diamond, phosphor, down-conversion crystals, up-conversion crystals, tin oxide, and glass; and optionally, no more than ten percent of Silicon Carbide; and optionally, a second component mixed with the first component to form a paste, the second component comprising at least one of a liquid and a wet/moist glue; and optionally disposing a reflective material on the solar member and/or on the surface of the substrate, wherein when the reflective material is disposed on the solar member, the coating is disposed between (a) a back side or a back-sheet of the solar member and (b) the reflective material, and wherein, when the reflective material is disposed on the surface of the substrate, the reflective material is disposed between (c) the coating and (d) the surface of the substrate, wherein the surface is one of flat, angled, V-shaped, concave shaped, circular, semi-circular, square shaped, rounded, and dome-shaped, wherein, when the surface of the substrate is positioned behind the solar member, there is an air gap distance between the surface and the solar member of at least 1.59 mm to 6 m.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: the reflective material is comprised of at least one of (a) an outdoor/exterior rated liquid reflective paint, and/or outdoor/exterior rated liquid white paint, and/or outdoor/exterior rated silver liquid paint, (b) an outdoor rated liquid white and/or silver liquid enamel, and (c) a wet/moist glue, and wherein the reflective material, when a liquid, may optionally contain no more than 10% of a solid particulate comprised of at least one of sea salt, powdered glass, crushed and/or powdered quartz, crushed and/or powdered white quartz, and a light-colored sand.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the solar member is in electrical communication via electrical circuitry with at least one inverter, the at least one inverter configured to activate when solar irradiance levels are at a seventy solar irradiance level, or less.

4. A method of increasing the electrical output from a solar member, the solar member comprising a solar cell, or a solar panel, or a solar module, the method comprising: applying on and/or within a back-sheet material of the solar member, and/or applying on and/or within a separate surface of a substrate disposed at least one of behind, below, and near the solar member, at least one of, in crushed and/or powdered form, obsidian, salt, sea salt, silicon dioxide, limestone, sandstone, granite, cement, quartz, white quartz, light colored sand, a prism material, diamond, phosphor, down-conversion crystals, up-conversion crystals, tin oxide and glass; optionally disposing a reflective material on the solar member and/or on the surface of the substrate, wherein when the reflective material is disposed on the solar member, the coating is disposed between (a) a back side or a back-sheet of the solar member and (b) the reflective material, and wherein, when the reflective material is disposed on the surface of the substrate, the reflective material is disposed between (c) the coating and (d) the surface of the substrate, wherein the surface is one of flat, angled, V-shaped, concave shaped, circular, semi-circular, square shaped, rounded, and dome-shaped, wherein optionally the surface of the substrate is reflective.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the surface is at least one of flat, angled, V-shaped, concave shaped, circular, semi-circular, square shaped, rounded, and dome-shaped, and wherein, when the surface is positioned behind the solar member, there is an air gap distance between the surface and the solar member of at least 1.59 mm to 6 m.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of a back-side and a back sheet is comprised of at least one of an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and a BoPET (Biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate), and an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

7. A method of cooling a solar member, the solar member comprising a solar cell, or a solar panel, or a solar module, the method comprising: applying an evaporative cooling material to at least one of the back-side and the back-sheet of a solar member and to the exterior back side of a solar member on which a coating is disposed, wherein the evaporative cooling material comprises a thermo-responsive water absorption and/or water adsorption and water desorption material, that absorbs/adsorbs rain and/or fog and/or water mist and/or water vapor and/or any form of water from the air when the temperature of the evaporative cooling material is twenty-five degrees Celsius (C), or less, and that desorbs and/or evaporates water into the air when the temperature of the evaporative cooling material is above twenty-five degrees Celsius and less than sixty degrees Celsius.

8. A method of cooling a solar member, the solar member comprising a solar cell, or a solar panel, or a solar module, the method comprising: applying a coating to the back-side and/or to the back-sheet of a solar member or to a surface of a substrate disposed behind, below and/or near the solar member, wherein the coating is adapted to release heat radiation in wavelengths of six to fifteen micrometers.

9. A method of increasing the electrical output of a solar member, the solar member comprising a solar cell, or a solar panel, or a solar module, the method comprising: applying at least one of a solar energy and/or light energy and/or electron energy down-conversion and/or up-conversion and/or scattering coating to and/or within at least one of (a) a back of a solar member; and/or (b) to and/or within a surface of a substrate that is positioned 1.59 mm to six meters of the solar member, wherein the coating adapted to reflect at least one of solar energy, photons, artificial light, and electrons at energy levels that enables electrons to be transitioned into the conduction band of solar members, wherein the coating adapted to reflect, elastically and/or inelastically, at least one of solar energy, photons, artificial light, and electrons into any other solar member disposed within at least a six-meter radius, and optionally, applying the coating to and/or on and/or within at least one of a pavement, the ground, and a rooftop below a solar field/array.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the coating is disposed on one at least one of the back-side and the back-sheet of a solar member, and/or on a surface of a substrate positioned behind, below and/or near the solar member, wherein optionally the surface of the substrate is reflective, wherein the coating comprises: a first component comprising: at least one of, in crushed and/or powdered form: obsidian, salt, sea salt, silicon dioxide, limestone, sandstone, granite, cement, quartz, white quartz, light colored sand, a prism material, diamond, phosphor, down-conversion crystals, up-conversion crystals, tin oxide, and glass; and optionally, no more than ten percent of Silicon Carbide; and optionally, a second component mixed with the first component to form a paste, the second component comprising at least one of a liquid and a wet/moist glue; and the method further comprising optionally disposing a reflective material on the solar member and/or on the surface of the substrate, wherein when the reflective material is disposed on the solar member, the coating is disposed between (a) a back side or a back-sheet of the solar member and (b) the reflective material, wherein, when the reflective material is disposed on the surface of the substrate, the reflective material is disposed between (c) the coating and (d) the surface of the substrate, wherein the surface is one of flat, angled, V-shaped, concave shaped, circular, semi-circular, square shaped, rounded, and dome-shaped, wherein, when the surface of the substrate is positioned behind the solar member, there is an air gap distance between the surface and the solar member of at least 1.59 mm to 6 m.

11. A method to increase the electrical output of a solar member, the solar member comprising a solar cell, or a solar panel, or a solar module, the method comprising: applying a coating and/or material to the back of a solar member, and/or on a surface of a substrate disposed near the solar member, wherein coating and/or material is adapted to provide at least one of additional photons and/or electrons traveling into the solar member by at least one of modification and/or reflection and/or scattering from at least one of (a) a Bremsstrahlung Radiation effect and/or (b) a Raman scattering, (c) a Stokes Raman scattering, (d) an anti-Stokes Raman scattering, (e) a Compton scattering, (f) a Thompson scattering, (g) a Brillouin scattering, (h) Debye or Mie Scattering, and (i) Rayleigh scattering.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a coating is disposed on one at least one of the back-side and the back-sheet of a solar member, and/or on a front surface of a substrate positioned behind, below and/or near the solar member, wherein optionally the surface of the substrate is reflective, wherein the coating comprises: a first component comprising: at least one of, in crushed and/or powdered form: obsidian, salt, sea salt, silicon dioxide, limestone, sandstone, granite, cement, quartz, white quartz, light colored sand, a prism material, diamond, phosphor, down-conversion crystals, up-conversion crystals, tin oxide, and glass; and optionally, no more than ten percent of Silicon Carbide; and optionally, a second component mixed with the first component to form a paste, the second component comprising at least one of a liquid and a wet/moist glue; and the method further comprising optionally disposing a reflective material on the solar member and/or on the surface of the substrate, wherein when the reflective material is disposed on the solar member, the coating is disposed between (a) a back side or a back-sheet of the solar member and (b) the reflective material, wherein, when the reflective material is disposed on the surface of the substrate, the reflective material is disposed between (c) the coating and (d) the surface of the substrate, wherein the surface is one of flat, angled, V-shaped, concave shaped, circular, semi-circular, square shaped, rounded, and dome-shaped, wherein, when the surface of the substrate is positioned behind the solar member, there is an air gap distance between the surface and the solar member of at least 1.59 mm to 6 m.

13. A method of increasing the electrical output of a plurality of solar members, the solar member comprising a solar cell, or a solar panel, or a solar module, the method comprising: applying a coating to at least some of the plurality of solar members in a staggered manner throughout a solar field that comprises the solar members or throughout an array that comprises the solar members; or applying the coating to at least one of every other solar member within a row of solar members; or applying the coating to at least every third solar member within a row of solar members; or applying the coating to alternating rows of solar members, wherein every other solar member is coated and where every third solar member is coated; or wherein there is at least one coated solar member within at least a six-meter radius of any uncoated solar members within a solar field/array.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein there is a coated solar member at each end of each row in the solar field/solar array.

15. A method of increasing the electrical output of a bifacial solar cell module that comprises first and second sets of solar cells, the method comprising disposing a coating between the two respective first and second sets of solar cells of the bifacial solar module, which first set of solar cells comprise a front part of the coated bifacial solar module, wherein the first set of solar cells face in a first direction toward the sun, and wherein the second set of solar cells comprise a back part of the coated bifacial solar module, wherein the second set of solar cells face in a second direction different than the first direction, wherein the coating comprises: a first component comprising: at least one of, in crushed and/or powdered form: obsidian, salt, sea salt, silicon dioxide, limestone, sandstone, granite, cement, quartz, white quartz, light colored sand, a prism material, diamond, phosphor, down-conversion crystals, up-conversion crystals, tin oxide, and glass; and optionally, no more than ten percent of Silicon Carbide; and optionally, a second component mixed with the first component to form a paste, the second component comprising at least one of a liquid and a wet/moist glue.

16. The method according to claim 8, wherein the coating is disposed on one at least one of the back-side and the back-sheet of a solar member, and/or on a surface of a substrate positioned behind, below and/or near the solar member, wherein optionally the surface of the substrate is reflective, wherein the coating comprises: a first component comprising: at least one of, in crushed and/or powdered form: obsidian, salt, sea salt, silicon dioxide, limestone, sandstone, granite, cement, quartz, white quartz, light colored sand, a prism material, diamond, phosphor, down-conversion crystals, up-conversion crystals, tin oxide, and glass; and optionally, no more than ten percent of Silicon Carbide; and optionally, a second component mixed with the first component to form a paste, the second component comprising at least one of a liquid and a wet/moist glue; and the method further comprising optionally disposing a reflective material on the solar member and/or on the surface of the substrate, wherein when the reflective material is disposed on the solar member, the coating is disposed between (a) a back side or a back-sheet of the solar member and (b) the reflective material, wherein, when the reflective material is disposed on the surface of the substrate, the reflective material is disposed between (c) the coating and (d) the surface of the substrate, wherein the surface is one of flat, angled, V-shaped, concave shaped, circular, semi-circular, square shaped, rounded, and dome-shaped, wherein, when the surface of the substrate is positioned behind the solar member, there is an air gap distance between the surface and the solar member of at least 1.59 mm to 6 m.

17. A method of increasing electrical output of a solar member, the solar member comprising a solar cell, or a solar panel, or a solar module, the method comprising applying a coating to the solar member, the coating adapted to increase an electrical output to the solar irradiance ratio as solar irradiance levels decrease.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the coating comprises: a first component comprising: at least one of, in crushed and/or powdered form: obsidian, salt, sea salt, silicon dioxide, limestone, sandstone, granite, cement, quartz, white quartz, light colored sand, a prism material, diamond, phosphor, down-conversion crystals, up-conversion crystals, tin oxide, and glass; and optionally, no more than ten percent of Silicon Carbide; and optionally, a second component mixed with the first component to form a paste, the second component comprising at least one of a liquid and a wet/moist glue; and the method further comprising optionally disposing a reflective material on the solar member and/or on the surface of the substrate, wherein optionally the surface of the substrate is reflective, wherein when the reflective material is disposed on the solar member, the coating is disposed between (a) a back side or a back-sheet of the solar member and (b) the reflective material, wherein, when the reflective material is disposed on the surface of the substrate, the reflective material is disposed between (c) the coating and (d) the surface of the substrate, wherein the surface is one of flat, angled, V-shaped, concave shaped, circular, semi-circular, square shaped, rounded, and dome-shaped, wherein, when the surface of the substrate is positioned behind the solar member, there is an air gap distance between the surface and the solar member of at least 1.59 mm to 6 m.

19. The method as in any of claim 1, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, or 17, wherein each of the first and second components contain non-liquid component particulates having a size of no greater than 841 microns, no more than a 1.4 angularity, and have fineness modulus of no more than 3.7, wherein the coating, when applied on and/or within at least one of the back-side and the back-sheet of the solar member, and/or when applied on and/or within a surface of the substrate, has a thickness that is not greater than five millimeters when in a dry state.

20. The method as in any of claim 1, 8, 11, 15, or 18, wherein the first component is between 35% and 65% of the coating, and when the coating includes the second component, the second component is between 65% and 35% of the coating when the first and second components are mixed.

21. The method as in any of claim 1, 4, 10, 12, 16, or 18, wherein the surface of the substrate comprises at least one of a biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (mylar), a polished metal, and a glass mirror.

22. The method as in any of claim 4, 10, 12, 16, or 18, wherein: the reflective material is comprised of at least one of an outdoor/exterior rated liquid white and/or silver liquid paint, an outdoor rated liquid white and/or silver liquid enamel, and/or a wet/moist glue, and wherein the reflective material, when a liquid, may optionally contain no more than 10% of a solid particulate comprised of at least one of sea salt, powdered glass, crushed and/or powdered quartz, crushed and/or powdered white quartz, and a light-colored sand.

23. The method as in any of claim 4, 10, 11, 12, 16, or 18, wherein the at least one of a back-side and a back sheet is comprised of at least one of an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and a BoPET (Biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate), and an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0151] FIG. 1 a side view of a solar panel, with at least one of the coatings and reflective covering disclosed herein applied to the back-sheet of the solar member, with an optional hard protective covering, and with a final optional special evaporative cooling coating.

[0152] FIG. 2 is a side view of a solar member with a solid separate surface behind, which solid separate surface (such as a separate plastic surface, a separate wood surface, a separate foam board surface, or the like) has been coated with at least one of the herein disclosed special coatings, which special coating has been applied to the front side of the solid separate surface that faces the back side/back-sheet of the solar member, where the solid coated separate surface is within a distance of at least one-sixteenth inch to one foot of the back-side/back-sheet of the solar member, and where the coating, with an optional reflective type backing, is applied in a reverse order from when being applied directly to a solar member.

[0153] FIG. 3 is a side view of a bifacial solar module, with at least one of the coatings disclosed herein, without any reflective backing, having been applied between two respective sets of solar cells, with a first set of solar cells facing the sun, and with a second set of solar cells facing away from the sun, being positioned behind the first set of solar cells, with both the first and second set of solar cells comprising a bifacial solar module.

[0154] FIG. 4 is a front view of a coated solar member, with a positive lead wire and a negative wire leading from the coated solar member to an inverter, which changes the DC electricity into AC electricity, and where the inverter is set to not operationally shut off until the exterior solar irradiance level drops to seventy, or less.

[0155] FIG. 5 is a side view of a vertically inclined flat separate solid surface, which has been coated on both sides with at least one of the coatings disclosed herein, and which can be positioned at any desired location within a solar field/solar array.

[0156] FIG. 6 is a top view of a vertically inclined rounded separate solid surface, which has been coated with at least one of the coatings disclosed herein, and which can be positioned at any desired location within a solar field/solar array.

[0157] FIG. 7 is a side view of a vertically inclined dome-shaped separate solid surface, which has been coated with at least one of the coatings disclosed herein, and which can be positioned at any desired location within a solar field/solar array.

[0158] FIG. 8 is a top view of a solar field/array where every other solar member is coated with at least one of the coatings disclosed herein.

[0159] FIG. 9 is a top view of a solar field/array where every third solar member is coated with at least one of the coatings disclosed herein.

[0160] FIG. 10 is a top view of a solar field/array where every other solar member is coated with at least one of the coatings disclosed herein in one row, and where every third solar member is coated with at least one of the coatings disclosed herein in the respective row above and below the row where every other solar member is coated, and with every row above and below the row where every third solar member is coated having every other solar member coated, with all respective rows coated in a staggered manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0161] The description is not intended in a limiting sense, and is made solely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of this subject matter. The various features and advantages of the present disclosure, none of which are drawn to scale, may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. As previously explained, the term solar member for purposes of the drawings herein includes and defines the multiple terms solar cells, solar panels, and solar modules, unless otherwise clearly indicated, as in FIG. 3 which describes a bifacial solar module, where there are two sets of solar cells that comprise the bifacial solar module.

[0162] Referring now to the drawings in detail, where like numerals refer to like parts or elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a side view, not drawn to any scale, of a solar member 1 with at least one of the special coatings 2 disclosed herein, with an optional hard, solid, protective covering 3, all directly and consecutively applied to the back-sheet 5 of the solar member 1, so as to at least one of increase the efficiency/electrical output and/or cool the solar member 1. Sunlight 6 from the sun 7 is shown entering into the front side 8 of a solar member 1, as well as indirect light 4 from the sun 7 being reflected from the ground 10 into the back side 9 of the solar member 1. The ground 10 may optionally be coated/paved with at least one of the special coatings 2 and/or coatings 2 disclosed herein, as shown herein. Both the front side 8 and the back-sheet 5 of a solar member 1 are well understood by those skilled in the art, with the top front side 8 typically being comprised of a glass, and with the back-sheet 5 typically being comprised of a tough plastic, or the like.

[0163] Optionally, the back-sheet 5 of a solar member 1 may also optionally be constructed of, and/or contain, at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein. This would avoid the need to apply one of the coatings 2 to the back-sheet 5 of a solar member 1 in the field. Whether one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein is applied to a solar member 1 as a coating 2 (layer), or whether the back-sheet 5 of a solar member 1 is constructed in conjunction with one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein (e.g., the coating 2 may be applied to, or embedded in, or mixed into the material of the back-sheet when manufactured, or the like), the type of plastic utilized in the back-sheet 5 would preferably be comprised of at least one of an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) type plastic and/or of a BoPET (Biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate) type plastic, or the like.

[0164] At least one of the special coatings 2 disclosed herein, optionally includes and/or contains and/or comprises a cement, (which has been previously defined and which is well understood by those skilled in the art), which cement, as also defined herein, may optionally include a cement curing retardant, which curing retardants are not individually shown herein as they are also well understood by those skilled in the art, so as to slow the curing time of the coating 2 after being mixed with a liquid, especially in hot weather, so as to enable the coating 2 to be maintained in an application tank, bucket, or the like, for a longer period of time without unduly hardening/curing during the coating 2 application process to a solar member 1.

[0165] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the translucent portion of sunlight 6 from the sun 7 going into and through the front side 8 of a solar member 1, as well as any indirect sunlight 4, interacts with at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein so as to at least one of provide and/or reflect and/or scatter additional favorably wave-altered light, such as sunlight 6, and/or electromagnetic radiation (electromagnetic radiation is understood by those of skill in the art) back into and around/near the solar member 1 so as to produce even more electrical energy (electrical energy is not shown herein as indirect sunlight is well understood by those of skill in the art). The said reflection and/or scattering of electromagnetic radiation caused by the coating 2 positively affects both the coated 2 solar member 1 and nearby uncoated solar members 1, which nearby uncoated solar members are not shown in FIG. 1, as same would be well understood by those of skill in the art reading the disclosure herein. Herein, the term positively affects means the coating 2 increases the efficiency/electrical output of solar members 1.

[0166] In solar member 1 applications, sunlight 6 entering from the front side 8 of a solar member 1 is typically utilized for electrical energy production. Sometimes costly metamaterials (not shown herein, as metamaterials are well understood by those of skill in the art) are used on top of the front side 8 of solar members 1 to bend incoming light waves more directly into the solar members 1.

[0167] Also, sometimes bifacial types of solar members/modules 1 (bifacial types are not shown herein as same are well understood by those skilled in the art, but a bifacial solar member/module is shown herein in FIG. 3), are utilized with solar cells being placed on both the front side 8 (the front side 8 would be the same on both a common solar member 1, as shown herein, and on a bifacial solar member/module), under the glass front cover (a front glass cover is not shown herein as same is well understood by those of skill in the art) for incoming direct sunlight 6, and on the back-side 9 (the back-side 9 would be the same on both a common solar member 1, as shown herein, and on a bifacial solar member/module) of the bifacial solar member/module under a second back glass cover (a back glass cover is not shown herein as same is well understood by those skilled in the art) so as to capture as much indirect sunlight 4 as possible, and thereby convert both direct sunlight 6 and indirect sunlight 4 into electrical production, as is well understood by those of skill in the art. Indirect sunlight 4 is still sunlight 6 originating from the sun 7, but is sunlight 6 that is reflected from the atmosphere (which is well understood by most everyone), the ground 10, or other nearby objects (not shown herein), as opposed to coming directly from the sun 7 itself.

[0168] Additionally, instead of solely using direct sunlight 6 entering the front side 8, and/or using indirect sunlight 4 entering the back-side 9, of solar members 1 the electromagnetic wavelengths of heat radiating (radiating heat, or thermal radiation, is also a form of electromagnetic radiation, as is well understood by those of skill in the art) from at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein can also be used to increase the effectiveness/efficiency/electric output of both directly coated solar members 1 and of nearby solar members that have no coating application. Nearby solar members that have no coating application are not shown herein, as same would be well understood by those skilled in the art.

[0169] Electrons (electrons are not shown herein as electrons are well understood by those of skill in the art) with energy levels that will not enable them to be transitioned into the conduction band (not shown herein, as core bands, valence bands, and conduction bands of electrons surrounding atoms are all well understood by those skilled in the art) within a solar member 1 can also be modified, by an inelastic reflection off at least one of the special coatings 2 disclosed herein, into an energy level that will enable the electron to transition into the conduction band of a solar member 1. Generally, it is reported that light with wavelengths between three hundred fifty and one thousand one hundred nanometers (nm) is sufficient to knock an electron out of a silicon atom's valence band into the conduction band (where it can be used for work), and electrons with energy level gains between one and one-tenth and three and a half electron volts (1.1 and 3.5 eV) have a sufficient energy level to transition into the conduction band.

[0170] Generally in most solar members 1, useful electrical production occurs when electrons are knocked out of their natural orbit around atoms by photons and into the conduction band of an atom within a solar member 1, which is all well understood by those skilled in the art. Utilization of at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, in at least one of the manners disclosed herein, can facilitate and increase knocking more and additional electrons out of their natural orbit and into the conduction band than is possible via the traditional and common use of incoming direct sunlight 6 and/or indirect light 4 alone.

[0171] Via utilization of at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, electrons with too high of an energy level can be reflected back into and/or scattered into solar members 1 at modified and lower energy levels that will enable them to be transitioned into the conduction band of the atoms of solar members 1. For example, in a silicon solar cell (while a generalized solar member 1 of any type is shown herein, a specific silicon solar cell within a solar member 1 is not shown herein, as same well understood by those of skill in the art), if a photon strikes an electron in the silicon atom's outer valence band so as to provide too much energy (above 3.5 eV), the electron gains so much energy that it is one of knocked into the conduction band with most of its energy lost as heat, and knocked clear out of both the valence band and the conduction band, and is therefore one of mostly unusable and unusable for electrical power production. However, if the now high-energy electron strikes at least one of the special coatings 2 disclosed herein, the high-energy electron loses some of its energy as it bounces off of, and/or is inelastically reflected from, at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, and its energy level can be reduced to between 1.1 and 3.5 eV, where it can now be transitioned into the conduction band so as to now provide useful electrical work.

[0172] Similarly, a high-energy photon (with a wavelength above about one thousand one hundred nanometers) from direct sunlight 6 and/or from indirect sunlight 4, that makes it through the solar member 1 (such as translucent light, which is well understood by those skilled in the art) without striking an atom or electron, as it bounces off of, and/or is inelastically reflected by, and/or is scattered by, the coating 2, could lose enough energy so as to provide an appropriate amount of energy for electrons within the solar member 1 material to transition electrons into the conduction band and provide useful electrical energy. Further, heat/radiant and/or other energy within the coating 2 itself could also add/provide/supply enough additional energy to low-energy light 6 (with a wavelength below about three hundred fifty nanometers) so as to inelastically reflect and/or scatter higher energy electromagnetic radiation (that can provide energy levels of about 1.1 to 3.5 eV to electrons) to the electrons in both the coated solar member 1 and into nearby solar members (nearby solar members are not shown here as same would be well understood by those of skill in the art) that are uncoated, so as to enable electron transitions into the conduction bands, so as to produce useful electrical energy.

[0173] After interacting with, and/or being inelastically reflected and/or scattered from at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, at least a portion of otherwise unusable, or mostly unusable, electromagnetic radiation and/or sunlight 6 will have been altered into additional wavelengths and/or energy levels that are favorable for, and increase, electrical production from both directly coated, and from nearby uncoated, solar members.

[0174] Also, some translucent light 6 and/or indirect light 4, with existing energy levels of about 1.1 to 3.5 eV, that makes it through a solar member 1 without interacting with an atom or an electron, could simply be elastically reflected by at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, back into the solar member 1 and/or into nearby solar members, whether or not such nearby solar members are coated 2, so as to interact with electrons within the solar member 1 and/or nearby solar members so as to provide additional electrical output.

[0175] At least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein can also advantageously act to extend heat rejection advantages from solar members 1 by means of releasing heat radiation in wavelengths between six and fifteen micrometers. Such wavelengths increase the likelihood of minimizing heat radiation bounce-back from the atmosphere, thereby increasing the likelihood of sending the heat out and away into deep space, all while assisting in more effectively cooling the solar members 1, so as to assist in increasing efficiencies/electrical output.

[0176] Further, via application of at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, the typical positive photon added energy levels to solar member 1 atom electrons in valence bands of about 1.1 eV to 3.5 eV, can be expanded from a typical useful light/electromagnetic wavelength range, of about three hundred fifty nanometers to one thousand one hundred nanometers, to electromagnetic wavelengths of between about two hundred nanometers to one hundred meters, which additionally enhances electrical production output abilities of both directly coated 2 and nearby uncoated solar members, as well as, over a period several months, to uncoated solar members which may be as far away as about one hundred meters from coated solar members 1.

[0177] All elements/materials in the coating 2 itself, as disclosed herein, would preferably have non-liquid component particulate sizes of 841 microns (20 mesh), or smaller, (more specifically greater than 0 microns up to 841 microns) and any type of sand in the coating 2 would preferably have no more than a 1.4 angularity, and a fineness modulus of no more than 3.7. Further, all the coatings 2 would preferably have an applied and dried (layer) thickness that is greater than 0 millimeters and not greater than five millimeters (one-half centimeter). Mesh sizes, angularity, and fineness modulus are all well understood by those of skill in the art.

[0178] While the coatings 2 disclosed herein are all rugged and capable of withstanding typical varying outdoor weather conditions, in the event additional weather protection on the back-side 9 is desired, a hard, solid, back cover 3, such as a plastic, a metal, or the like, cover can optionally be used.

[0179] Lastly, a final optional special evaporative cooling coating 11 is shown as applied as a final and last cooling coating 11. The evaporative cooling coating 11 may comprise a cooling material 11 comprised of a thermo-responsive water absorption and/or water adsorption and water desorption material, such as a thermo-responsive polymer and a hydrophilic component and/or sodium alginate, or the like, which naturally absorbs moisture from the air during cooler periods, and which evaporates, affording evaporative cooling advantages, during hotter periods, all without having to obtain and utilize any actual fresh water supplies (such as from a lake, a stream, a river, a canal, a water supply pipe, or the like). Cooling solar members 1 is advantageous, as solar members 1 lose both efficiency and longevity during periods of excessive heat, at least above twenty-five degrees celcius (C).

[0180] While a final optional special evaporative cooling coating 11 is shown herein as being applied as a final and last cooling coating 11 on a coated 2 solar member 1, such a special evaporative cooling coating 11 can also be utilized on any conventional uncoated solar member. Uncoated solar members are not shown herein (and are also referenced in other drawings herein), but uncoated solar members are well understood by those skilled in the art, and are such as the solar member shown as 1 in FIG. 1, but without any coating 2 that is shown in FIG. 1.

[0181] FIG. 2 is a side view of a solar member 1, not drawn to any scale, with a separate surface 12 (of a substrate 40) positioned behind the solar member 1. In an embodiment, the surface may be solid or continuous. The separate surface 12 (may include but is not limited to a plastic surface, a wood surface, a glass surface, a foam board surface, a foil type surface, a mylar surface, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic type surface, a BoPET (Biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate) plastic type surface, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic type surface, any rigid surface, or the like) may be coated 2 with at least one of the herein disclosed coatings 2, which coating 2 has been applied to the front side 16 of the surface 12 that faces the back side 9 of the solar member 1, and where the coated (separate) surface 12 is preferably within a distance of at least 1.59 mm to 304.8 mm (mm stands for millimeters) of the exterior back-side 9 of the back-sheet 5 of the solar member 1 so as to provide an air gap space 13 of at least 1.59 mm to 304.8 mm (not drawn to any scale) so as to permit natural heat from the solar member 1 to escape.

[0182] Such a solid separate surface 12 of a substrate 40, which is coated 2 with at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, may be positioned behind the back-side/back exterior side 9 of a solar member 1, and would preferably be comprised of one of a separate plastic surface, a separate wood surface, a glass surface, a separate foam board surface, a foil type surface, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic type surface, a BoPET (Biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate) plastic type surface, any rigid surface, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) type plastic type surface, or the like, with the solid separate surface 12 being coated on its front side 16, with the front side 16 of the solid separate surface 12 facing the back-side/back exterior side 9 of the solar member 1, with the coating 2 being comprised of at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein.

[0183] However, here, with the coating 2 and a reflective material 14 being applied to a separate surface 12 positioned behind the solar member 1, the coating 2 should be applied in a reverse order from that of when being applied directly to a solar member 1 itself, so that any reflective material 14 is first applied to the separate surface 12, (exemplary reflective materials 14 include but are not limited to, a white or silver paint, a white or silver enamel, a mylar, a polished metal, or other reflective matter, or the like) and is next followed by applying the coating 2 on top of the reflective material 14. The optional reflective material 14, although not shown in FIG. 1, could optionally be applied between the coating 2 and the optional hard, solid, protective covering 3 shown in FIG. 1.

[0184] Here, as an example of an attachment means 15, the separate surface 12 is shown as being positioned spaced apart from and attached behind the back-side 9 of a solar member 1 by means of two attachment bars 15, or the like. In other embodiments, other fastener types may be used instead of attachment bars 15 to maintain an air gap 13 between the solar member 1 and the coating 2, which coating 2 is shown herein as having an optional reflective surface 14 positioned between the coating 2 and the solid separate surface 12 of a substrate 40.

[0185] In some embodiments an attachment means 15 may be unnecessary, especially when separately coated 2 structures (also a substrate 40), such as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, as examples, are strategically and independently placed within a solar field/solar array in optional manners, such as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, as examples.

[0186] The provision of at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein being applied to a solid separate surface 12 that is positioned and attached behind the back-side 9 of a solar member 1 affords the advantage of supplying the coating 2 to pre-manufactured surfaces 12, without the necessity to apply the coatings 2 in the field, which would likely be more time-consuming and costly. Further, when placing the coating 2 on a solid separate surface 12 that is positioned and attached behind the back-side 9 of a solar member 1, with at least a 1.59 mm to 304.8 mm air gap 13 separation distance between the solar panel 1 and the solid separate surface 12, there is adequate space for the coating 2 to positively affect both a traditional and common solar member 1, and a bi-facial solar member/module, which is well understood by those skilled in the art, and which is shown as 17 in FIG. 3.

[0187] As in FIG. 1, the sun 6 in FIG. 2 is shown as providing sunlight 6 to the front side 8 of the solar member 1.

[0188] FIG. 3 is a side view of a bifacial solar member/solar module 17, not drawn to any scale, with at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein (without any reflective backing such as shown as 14 in FIG. 2) having been applied/provided between two respective sets of solar cells, shown herein as 18 and 19 of the coated 2 bifacial solar member/solar module 17 where a first set of solar cells 18 face the sun 7, and where a second set of solar cells 19, being positioned behind the first set of solar cells 18, face away from the sun 7.

[0189] While the first set of solar cells 18, with at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein positioned behind it, faces the sun 7 and receives direct sunlight 6, the second set of solar cells 19, which also receives the advantage of at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, being positioned behind the first set of solar cells 18, faces away from the sun 7 and receives indirect sunlight 4 reflected from at least one of the atmosphere and surrounding objects, such as the ground 10, hills, buildings, or the like.

[0190] The placement/provision of at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein between such first set of solar cells 18 and a second set of solar cells 19, together comprise a coated 2 bifacial solar member/solar module 17, which advantageously affords a bifacial solar member/solar module 17 manufacturer to require only one coating 2 application, so as to lighten weight, and so as to save in coating 2 application time, as well as to save in material costs, over applying at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein to two full respective and individual traditional and common solar members 1, such as individually shown as 1 in FIG. 1.

[0191] The sun 6 is also shown herein as providing direct sunlight 6 to the front side 8 of the bifacial solar member/solar module 17, so as to provide direct sunlight 6 to the first set of solar cells 18 facing the sun 7.

[0192] FIG. 4, not drawn to any scale, is a front view of solar member 1 that has been coated 2 with at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, with a junction box 20 provided on the solar member 1, and with a positive wire 21 and a negative wire 22 leading from the junction box 20 on the coated 2 solar panel to an inverter 23, which inverter 23 changes the direct current (DC) electricity, from the positive circuit wire 21 and from the negative circuit wire 22, produced from the solar member 1 into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is then sent from the inverter 23 through an AC wire 24 for useful electrical work, as is well understood by those skilled in the art. Instead of being set to turn off and disengage when solar irradiance levels drop to one hundred or less, as is common in the solar industry, the inverter 23 is set to not operationally shut off until the exterior solar irradiance level drops to seventy, or less, which, by reason of the coating's provision of additional and above-normal electrical output during periods of low solar irradiance, affords more cost-effective electrical production. Junction boxes 20 on the solar member 1, positive and negative DC wires 21 and 22, inverters 23, AC wiring 24, and solar irradiance levels (watts per square meter) are all well understood by those skilled in the art. Also, the circuitry 42 design sizing of the junction box 20, the DC wiring 21 and 22, the inverter 23, and the AC wiring 24, in addition to all other electrical components (which are all well understood by those skilled in the art), may be upgraded as necessary so as to accommodate the increased electrical output resulting from use of the special coating 2.

[0193] FIG. 5 is a top view of a exemplary embodiment of a vertically inclined flat separate (preferably solid) surface 12, 25, not drawn to any scale, which has been coated 2 on both sides with at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, and which can be positioned at any desired location within a solar field/solar array, but which is preferably positioned within six meters, or more, of uncoated solar members. A solar field/solar array is not shown herein, as same is well understood by those skilled in the art. Due to the Ryland effect and/or the halo effect of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, simply installing one or more vertically inclined flat separate surfaces 25, which have been coated with at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, can positively affect multiple nearby uncoated solar members (uncoated solar members are not shown herein as same are well understood by those skilled in the art, but are solar members such as a solar member 1 as shown in FIG. 1, but without any coating 2 that is shown in FIG. 1). The inclined generally flat separate (preferably solid) surface 25 would preferably be at least as high as the top of solar members in the adjacent and/or nearby solar field/solar array, with both solar members and an adjacent and/or nearby solar field/solar array being well understood by those skilled in the art.

[0194] FIG. 6 is a top view of a vertically inclined rounded separate (in an embodiment) solid surface 12, 26, not drawn to any scale, which has been coated 2 with at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, and which can be positioned at any desired location within a solar field/solar array, but which is preferably positioned within six meters of uncoated solar members. Uncoated solar members are well understood by those skilled in the art, but are such as the solar member shown as 1 in FIG. 1, but without any coating 2 that is shown in FIG. 1. A solar field/solar array is not shown herein, as same is well understood by those skilled in the art. Due to the Ryland effect and/or the halo effect of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, simply installing one or more vertically inclined generally rounded separate (preferably solid) surfaces 26, which have been coated with at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, can positively affect multiple uncoated solar panels (not shown herein). The inclined rounded separate (preferably solid) surface 26 would preferably be at least as high as the top of uncoated solar members in the adjacent and/or nearby solar field/solar array, with both uncoated solar members and an adjacent and/or nearby solar field/solar array being well understood by those skilled in the art.

[0195] FIG. 7 is a side view of a vertically inclined dome-shaped separate (preferably solid) surface 12, 27, not drawn to any scale, which has been coated 2 with at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, and which can be positioned at any desired location within a solar field/solar array, but which is preferably positioned within six meters of uncoated solar members. Uncoated solar members are well understood by those skilled in the art, but are such as the solar member shown as 1 in FIG. 1, but without any coating 2 that is shown in FIG. 1.

[0196] A solar field/solar array is not shown herein, as same is well understood by those skilled in the art. Due to the Ryland effect and/or the halo effect of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, simply installing one or more vertically inclined dome-shaped separate (preferably solid) surfaces 27, which have been coated 2 with at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein, can positively affect multiple uncoated solar members. Uncoated solar members are well understood by those skilled in the art, but are such as the solar member shown as 1 in FIG. 1, but without any coating 2 that is shown in FIG. 1. The inclined dome-shaped separate solid surface 27 would preferably be at least as high as the top of uncoated solar members in the adjacent and/or nearby solar field/solar array, with both solar members and an adjacent and/or nearby solar field/solar array being well understood by those skilled in the art.

[0197] FIG. 8 is a top view of an exemplary solar field/array 28, not drawn to any scale, where every other solar member 1 is coated (such coatings 2 are shown and identified in this drawing by the letter X) with at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein. Coating 2 every other solar member 1 in a solar field/array 28 is as effective, and sometimes more effective, in increasing the efficiency/electrical output of the solar field/array 28 than as coating 2 every individual solar member (such as shown as 1 in FIG. 1) in the solar field/array 28. This is because of at least one of the Ryland effect and the halo effect of the coating 2, which coating's 2 positive effect in increasing efficiency/electrical output extends to adjacent and/or nearby uncoated solar members. Uncoated solar members are well understood by those skilled in the art, but are such as the solar member shown as 1 in FIG. 1, but without any coating 2 that is shown in FIG. 1, and are such as the solar members 1 shown herein without an X designation.

[0198] Additionally, each respective solar member 1 at each end of each respective row is preferably coated 2, as shown herein, so as to permit maximum exposure of all direct 6 and indirect sunlight 4 (direct 6 and indirect sunlight 4 is not shown herein, but is shown as 6 and 4 in FIG. 1) to the coated solar members 1 at the end of each row of solar cell members 1 in the solar field/array 28 in both the mornings and in the evenings, when the sun (not shown herein, but shown as 7 in FIG. 1) is at the Easterly and Westwardly side of the solar field/array 28 in the Northern hemisphere, and is at the Westwardly and Easterly side of the solar field/array 28 in the Southern hemisphere.

[0199] Further, in addition to coating 2 every solar member 1 at the end of each respective row of solar members 1, it is preferable to stagger the coating 2 of every other solar member 1 in each respective row, so that a coated solar member 1 would be both above and below an uncoated solar member when there are more than two rows, such as the three rows 29a, 29b, and 29c as shown herein, of solar members in the solar field/array 28. Coating 2 every other solar member 1 is also shown herein as only one example of how coated solar members 1 may be placed in a staggered position within a solar field/array 28.

[0200] FIG. 9 is a top view of a solar field/array 28, not drawn to any scale, where every third solar member 1 is coated 2 (coatings 2 are shown and identified in this drawing by the letter X) with at least one of the coatings 2 disclosed herein. Coating 2 every third solar member 1 in a solar field/array 28 is close to being as effective as coating 2 every other solar member 1 as shown in FIG. 8, but is half the cost of materials and labor as coating 2 every other solar member 1. Saving half the coating cost when coating 2 a large solar field/array 28, while still achieving a good increase in efficiency/electrical output, may be preferable in some circumstances. Achieving good increases in efficiency/electrical output by coating 2 only every third solar member 1 again results because of at least one of the Ryland effect and the halo effect of the coating 2, which coating's 2 positive effect in increasing efficiency/electrical output extends to adjacent and/or nearby uncoated solar members. Uncoated solar members are well understood by those skilled in the art, but are such as the solar member shown as 1 in FIG. 1, but without any coating 2 that is shown in FIG. 1, and are such as the solar members 1 shown herein without an X designation.

[0201] Additionally, each respective solar member 1 at each end of each respective row is preferably coated, as shown herein, so as to permit maximum exposure of all direct and indirect sunlight (direct and indirect sunlight is not shown herein, but is shown as 6 and 4 in FIG. 1) to the end of each row solar cell member 1 in the solar field/array 28 in both the mornings and in the evenings, when the sun (the sun is not shown herein, but is shown as 7 in FIG. 1) is at the Easterly and Westwardly side of the solar field/array 28 in the Northern hemisphere, and is at the Westwardly and Easterly side of the solar field/array 28 in the Southern hemisphere.

[0202] The subject drawing has a total of three rows, 30a, 30b, and 30c, in order to depict the additionally preferred staggering of the coated solar members 1 in each respective row. Coating every third solar member 1 is also shown herein as another example of how coated solar members 1 may be placed in a staggered position within a solar field/array 28.

[0203] FIG. 10 is a top view of a solar field/array 28, not drawn to any scale, where there is a combination of every third solar member 1 being coated 2 in one row 31a, as shown in FIG. 8, and where every other solar member 1 is shown as being coated 2 in the row immediately below row 32a, as shown in FIG. 8, with a continuing sequence of every third solar member 1 being coated 2 in the next row below 31c, and with every other solar member 1 being coated 2 in the next row below 31d, and so on, but with each solar member at the end of each respective row, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, and 31f, being coated. Uncoated solar members are well understood by those skilled in the art, but are such as the solar member shown as 1 in FIG. 1, but without any coating 2 that is shown in FIG. 1.

[0204] This coating 2 sequence affords efficiency/electrical output level increases between that of coating 2 every other solar member 1 in a row and coating every third solar member 1 in a row, while also affording a mid-point coating time/cost, which may be preferable in some situations.

[0205] Additionally, each respective solar member 1 at each end of each respective row is preferably coated 2, as shown herein, so as to permit maximum exposure of all direct and indirect sunlight (direct and indirect sunlight is not shown herein, but is shown as 6 and 4 in FIG. 1) to the end of each respective row, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, and 31f, of solar members 1 in the solar field/array 28 in both the mornings and in the evenings, when the sun (the sun is not shown herein, but is shown as 6 in FIG. 1) is at the Easterly and Westwardly side of the solar field/array 28 in the Northern hemisphere, and is at the Westwardly and Easterly side of the solar field/array 28 in the Southern hemisphere.

[0206] Other, and even more sparse, staggered placement arrangements of coated 2 solar members 1 in a solar field/array 28 may be made as preferred, based upon coating 2 cost factors in any particular situation, as positive coating 2 effects spread over time, and can be attained, within a period of about sixty to ninety days, on uncoated solar members 1 that are at least as far as twenty meters away from coated 2 solar members 1. Uncoated solar members are well understood by those skilled in the art, but are such as the solar member shown as 1 in FIG. 1, but without any coating 2 that is shown in FIG. 1, and are such as the solar members 1 shown herein without an X designation.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0207] In general, the foregoing disclosure finds utility in various commercial and industrial applications, such as in the energy production industry, in providing increased electrical output from solar members. The present disclosures relate to improved methods to enable solar members to produce more electrical power per given area, such as per square meter for example, than afforded by traditional solar members without any of the special coatings disclosed herein, and to typically stay cooler than traditional solar panels, which also can increase electrical power output, as heated solar panels can degrade both electrical power output and solar cell life span, which present disclosures are therefore preferable for most any useful solar member electrical energy supply purpose. Such an improved electrical power production method would at least one of: enable the reduction in size and cost of solar members; enable the reduction in size and cost of at least one of charge controllers, wiring, and inverters; and/or would reduce land area and/or rooftop area requirements for the production of a desired amount of electrical power via solar member electrical production.

[0208] Herein, the disclosed coatings are comprised of one or more solid particulates in a first component, and of one of a liquid and a wet/moist component in a second component. Solid particulates may include crushed and/or powdered sand, or the like, as disclosed herein, all in a particulate form, preferably with particulates no larger than sizes disclosed herein. Liquid components would include liquid paints and/or enamels, or the like. Wet/moist components would include liquid glues, moist epoxies, and the like. Both liquids and wet/fluid components can optionally be mixed with solid particulates to form a paste-like coating substance that is easily applied to the back of solar members and/or to the front of a solid separate surface that is placed behind or near solar members. As used herein, the term reflective material includes liquids and/or solids that are placed behind the coatings so as to at least one of reflect and scatter at least one of electromagnetic radiation/light and electrons. When volume percentages of compositions of solid particulates, and/or liquid components, and/or wet/moist components are cited, the percentages are based upon original volume, and not upon weight unless otherwise stated, with original volume for liquids and wet/moist materials being based upon their original liquid/wet/moist condition, and not when dried.

[0209] As utilized hereinabove, as well as in the below Claims, the term solar member, when utilized in the following claims, encompasses solar cells, solar panels, and solar modules, unless clearly indicated otherwise.