THEORY: That today’s solar panels are as efficient as old incandescent light bulbs. That all shiny and reflected light is wasted. That by design and shape the efficiency could be improved greatly.
DATE of ORIGIN: November, 2015.
DESCRIPTION: Solar cells, even those on the International Space Station, are only 60% efficient. Because they reflect up to 40% of the light. They are similar in design to a flat belt when they should look more like a V belt. Prisms and design changes would correct this problem.
Look how different nature does it.
Take note of this plant. It’s a Hen & Chick plant (Sempervivum Tectorum). This is nature’s way of building a photocell. Yes, this is photosynthesis, but the principles are the same. It is structured and designed to capture sunlight. Notice there is little reflected light.
There are two quick design changes that could occur to make current photo cells more efficient.
First: light is reflected because of the smooth glassy finish of a typical panel. This is simple reflection but herein lies the problem because there is nothing to stop this reflection. It is nearly impossible to position the panel such that there is no reflection (which would be 90 degrees to the Sun) and if that was accomplished the Sun would quickly shift its position.
The way to fix this is by covering the solar panel with many small prisms. Laid out in a horizontal pattern. These prisms will reflect all light down into the solar panel and there will be no reflection. No wasted light and the panel will become more along the lines of 90% to 95% efficient. Producing more electricity for the same infrastructure.
As well, cutting vertical prisms fanning out from the bottom of the panel. These prisms would catch the sun as it tracked across the horizon. This could be accomplished by putting a plastic film over the panel or etched glass panels to overlay the photo panel.
Horizontal Prisms will track the Sun vertically and the Vertical Prisms will track the Sun horizontally. Making it possible for the solar panel to be stationary and still track the Sun across the sky.
Second: Solar panels are made as two-dimensional. If the solar panels were made in three-dimensional arrays they would be more efficient per square meter. Building three-dimensionally also makes it easier to capture more reflected light. As in the Hen & Chick plant. In this example any reflected light is caught by the underside photo panel. Achieving closer to 100% light utilization.
This array is very useful as it can be collapsed for shipment and expanded when delivered. Similar to an old metal kitchen strainer.
Another good example of how nature does sunlight capture is a mountain side. The conical shape of the conifer trees and their year round needles make them the perfect photo cells. Their conical shape packed in densely together is the same as cross cutting prisms on the surface of the photo panel. Nature has created a system so successful that no light escapes. In fact little light even reaches the forest floor.
This is an excellent way to improve efficiency in electrical production and would make the difference between whether a home could be effectively run on solar power.
Hope you Enjoy.