A thermal tracking system for a concentrating photovoltaic system is disclosed. The thermal tracking system comprises a photovoltaic receiver. The photovoltaic receiver comprises a photovoltaic laminate and a heat spreader. The thermal tracking system further comprises first and second thermal senso
A thermal tracking system for a concentrating photovoltaic system is disclosed. The thermal tracking system comprises a photovoltaic receiver. The photovoltaic receiver comprises a photovoltaic laminate and a heat spreader. The thermal tracking system further comprises first and second thermal sensors coupled to the photovoltaic laminate and sensing two temperatures of the laminate. The thermal tracking system also comprises third and fourth thermal sensors positioned adjacent the heat spreader and sensing two temperatures near the heat spreader.
대표청구항▼
1. A thermal tracking system for a concentrating photovoltaic system comprising: a photovoltaic receiver extending in a longitudinal direction, the photovoltaic receiver comprising: a photovoltaic laminate having first and second edges extending parallel to the longitudinal direction, the photovolta
1. A thermal tracking system for a concentrating photovoltaic system comprising: a photovoltaic receiver extending in a longitudinal direction, the photovoltaic receiver comprising: a photovoltaic laminate having first and second edges extending parallel to the longitudinal direction, the photovoltaic receiver having a front side with a front surface, the front side directed to receive sunlight and a back side with a back surface, the back side opposite the front side, the photovoltaic laminate comprising a plurality of photovoltaic solar cells;a heat spreader coupled to the back side of the photovoltaic laminate along the longitudinal direction and extending toward the first and second edges of the photovoltaic laminate, the heat spreader stopping short of the first edge and the second edge;first and second thermal sensors coupled to and in direct contact with the back side of the photovoltaic laminate and disposed between the back side of the photovoltaic laminate and the heat spreader, the first thermal sensor closer to the first edge than the second edge, the second thermal sensor closer to the second edge than the first edge, the first and second thermal sensors adapted to sense a temperature of the photovoltaic laminate; andthird and fourth thermal sensors coupled to the back surface of the photovoltaic laminate and adjacent the heat spreader, the third thermal sensor positioned between the first edge and the heat spreader, the fourth thermal sensor positioned between the second edge and the heat spreader. 2. The thermal tracking system of claim 1, wherein the first and second thermal sensors are electrically connected. 3. The thermal tracking system of claim 2, wherein the third and fourth thermal sensors are electrically connected. 4. The thermal tracking system of claim 3, wherein the first and second thermal sensors are electrically connected to the third and fourth thermal sensors. 5. The thermal tracking system of claim 4, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth thermal sensors are connected in series. 6. The thermal tracking system of claim 1, wherein the third and fourth thermal sensors are spaced apart from the back surface of the photovoltaic laminate. 7. The thermal tracking system of claim 6, wherein the third and fourth thermal sensors are each positioned atop an offset member positioning them apart from the photovoltaic laminate. 8. The thermal tracking system of claim 1, wherein the first thermal sensor is connected in reverse polarity to the second thermal sensor. 9. The thermal tracking system of claim 8, wherein the third thermal sensor is connected in reverse polarity to the fourth thermal sensor. 10. The thermal tracking system of claim 1, additionally comprising a concentrator configured to direct concentrated sunlight onto the front side of the photovoltaic laminate. 11. A method for tracking the sun for a concentrated photovoltaic system, the concentrated photovoltaic system comprising a photovoltaic receiver extending in a longitudinal direction and a heat spreader coupled to a back side of the photovoltaic laminate along the longitudinal direction, the method comprising: sensing a first temperature in a first location of the photovoltaic laminate with a first thermal sensor, the first thermal sensor coupled to and in direct contact with the back side of the photovoltaic laminate and disposed between the back side of the photovoltaic laminate and the heat spreader, the photovoltaic laminate having first and second edges extending parallel to the longitudinal direction, the photovoltaic receiver having a front side with a front surface and the back side with a back surface, the front side directed to receive sunlight, the back side opposite the front side, the photovoltaic laminate comprising a plurality of photovoltaic solar cells, the heat spreader extending toward the first and second edges of the photovoltaic laminate, the heat spreader stopping short of the first edge and the second edge, the first thermal sensor closer to the first edge than the second edge;sensing a second temperature in a second location of the photovoltaic laminate with a second thermal sensor, the second thermal sensor coupled to and in direct contact with the back side of the photovoltaic laminate and disposed between the back side of the photovoltaic laminate and the heat spreader, the second thermal sensor closer to the second edge than the first edge;determining a tracking correction for the concentrated photovoltaic system by comparing the first and second temperatures;sensing a third temperature in an upstream position of air flowing over the heat spreader with a third thermal sensor positioned on the back surface of the photovoltaic laminate and adjacent the heat spreader, the third thermal sensor positioned between the first edge and the heat spreader;sensing a fourth temperature in a downstream position of air flowing over the heat spreader with a fourth thermal sensor positioned on the back surface of the photovoltaic laminate and adjacent the heat spreader, the fourth thermal sensor positioned between the second edge and the heat spreader; andadjusting the tracking correction for the concentrated photovoltaic system based on information derived from the third and fourth temperatures. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein comparing the first and second temperatures comprises subtracting a value for the first temperature from a value for the second temperature. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein sensing the third temperature comprises sensing a temperature with the third sensor and sensing the fourth temperature comprises sensing a temperature with the fourth sensor. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the tracking correction based on information derived from the third and fourth temperatures comprises electrically connecting the third sensor and the fourth sensor. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein electrically connecting the third and fourth sensors comprises connecting the third and fourth sensors in reverse polarity. 16. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the tracking correction for the concentrated photovoltaic system based on information derived from the third and fourth temperatures comprises adjusting the tracking correction based on cooling of the photovoltaic laminate to improve the estimation of a temperature gradient in the photovoltaic laminate caused by imprecision in positioning of concentrated sunlight on the photovoltaic receiver. 17. The method of claim 11, wherein sensing the first and second temperatures in the first and second locations of the photovoltaic laminate comprises positioning first and second thermocouples against the photovoltaic laminate. 18. The method of claim 11, further comprising adjusting the position of the concentrating photovoltaic system in response to the adjusted tracking correction. 19. A concentrating photovoltaic system comprising: a reflective surface adapted to concentrate sunlight to produce focused sunlight;a photovoltaic receiver extending in a longitudinal direction and positioned to receive the focused sunlight, the photovoltaic receiver comprising a photovoltaic laminate having first and second edges extending parallel to the longitudinal direction, the photovoltaic receiver having a front side with a front surface, the front side directed to receive sunlight and a back side with a back surface, the back side opposite the front side, the photovoltaic laminate comprising photovoltaic solar cells;first and second thermal sensors directly contacting the back side of the photovoltaic laminate in the concentrating photovoltaic system;a heat spreader in thermal communication with the back side of the photovoltaic laminate, the heat spreader having a first open side and a second open side, wherein the first and second thermal sensors are disposed between the heat spreader and the back side of the photovoltaic laminate;third and fourth thermal sensors, the third thermal sensor positioned near the first open side of the heat spreader between the first open side and the first edge and the fourth thermal sensor positioned near the second open side of the heat spreader between the second open side and the second edge;a motor adapted to adjust the position of the concentrating photovoltaic system; anda control system adapted to operate the motor, the control system connected to and receiving information from the first, second, third, and fourth thermal sensors, the control system further adapted to operate the motor in response to a signal received from at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth thermal sensors. 20. The concentrating photovoltaic system of claim 19, wherein the control system is further adapted to compare information from the first and second thermal sensors to determine a correction value for the position of the concentrating photovoltaic system. 21. The concentrating photovoltaic system of claim 20, wherein the control system is further adapted to adjust the correction value in response to information received from the third and fourth thermal sensors. 22. The concentrating photovoltaic system of claim 21, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth thermal sensors are electrically connected to one another. 23. The concentrating photovoltaic system of claim 22, wherein the second thermal sensor is connected in reverse polarity to the first thermal sensor. 24. The concentrating photovoltaic system of claim 23, wherein the fourth thermal sensor is connected in reverse polarity to the third thermal sensor. 25. The concentrating photovoltaic system of claim 19, wherein the photovoltaic solar cells are back-contact solar cells.
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