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A solar powered electricity generating system comprised of a concentrator assembly that concentrates solar flux into a thermal storage unit. The thermal storage unit converts solar energy into heat energy which is then provided to three cascaded converter stages which, in the preferred embodiment, a

A solar powered electricity generating system comprised of a concentrator assembly that concentrates solar flux into a thermal storage unit. The thermal storage unit converts solar energy into heat energy which is then provided to three cascaded converter stages which, in the preferred embodiment, are comprised of a thermionic electric converter (TEC), an alkaline metal thermal to electric converter (AMTEC) and a thermoelectric generator stage comprised of a plurality of thermal photovoltaic cells. A phase change material is positioned within the thermal receiver such that the solar flux converts the material from a solid phase into a liquid phase such that the thermal storage unit can continue to generate heat energy when the sun is no longer providing thermal flux to the receiver as a result of the heat energy produced as the phase change material changes back from a liquid phase to a solid phase.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [40.]40. A method of producing electrical power, the method comprising:receiving a first flux of solar power;concentrating the first flux of solar power into a second flux of solar power;converting the second flux of solar power into thermal energy, said converting resulting i

[ What is claimed is:] [40.]40. A method of producing electrical power, the method comprising:receiving a first flux of solar power;concentrating the first flux of solar power into a second flux of solar power;converting the second flux of solar power into thermal energy, said converting resulting in a first output flow of thermal power;producing a first flow of electrical power from the first output flow of thermal power, said producing of the first flow of electrical power resulting in a second output flow of thermal power;regulating the second output flow of thermal power to produce a second flow of electrical power from the second output flow of thermal power, said producing of the second flow of electrical power resulting in a third output flow of thermal power; andproducing a third flow of electrical power from the second output flow of thermal power.