Brian C Riggs

US Patent:

20200106386, Apr 2, 2020

Filed:

Feb 26, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/497699

Inventors:

- New Orleans LA, US
Matthew David Escarra - New Orleans LA, US
Brian C. Riggs - Frederick MD, US

Assignee:

The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund - New Orleans LA

International Classification:

H02S 40/44
F24S 10/50

Abstract:

The present invention provides a hybrid, concentrating photovoltaic-solar thermal (CPV/T) system and components thereof, and methods for converting solar energy to electricity at high efficiencies while capturing and storing solar thermal energy for later deployment.

US Patent:

20190115869, Apr 18, 2019

Filed:

Mar 28, 2017

Appl. No.:

16/089294

Inventors:

- New Orleans LA, US
Qi Xy - San Jose CA, US
Yaping Ji - New Orleans LA, US
Brian C. Riggs - New Orleans LA, US
Adam Ollanik - Boulder CO, US
Kazi M. Islam - New Orleans LA, US
Daniel Codd - San Diego CA, US
Vince Romanin - San Francisco LA, US
Nicholas David Farrar-Foley - Milwaukee WI, US

Assignee:

The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund - New Orleans LA

International Classification:

H02S 40/42
H01L 31/052
H02S 40/22
H02S 20/32
H01L 31/048
H02S 40/44
H01L 31/0687

Abstract:

A spectrum splitting, transmissive concentrating photovoltaic (tCPV) module is proposed and designed for a hybrid photovoltaic-solar thermal (PV/T) system. The system may be able to fully utilize the full spectrum of incoming sunlight. By utilizing III-V triple junction solar cells with bandgaps of approximately 2.1 eV, 1.7 eV, and 1.4 eV in the module, ultraviolet (UV) and visible light (in-band light) are absorbed and converted to electricity, while infrared (IR) light (out-of-band light) passes through and is captured by a solar thermal receiver and stored as heat. The stored heat energy may be dispatched as electricity or process heat as needed. The tCPV module may have an overall power conversion efficiency exceeding 43.5% for above bandgap (in-band) light under a standard AM1.5D solar spectrum with an average concentration ratio of 400 suns. Passive and/or active cooling methods may be used to keep cells below 110 C. while transmitting >75% of out-of-band light to the thermal receiver, which may attain thermal energy capture at temperatures as high as 500 C. or more. A transparent active cooling system may improve the CPV module efficiency by about 1% (absolute) relative to a passive cooling system by reducing the maximum cell working temperature by about 16 C.