Composite material compositions, arrangements and methods having enhanced thermal conductivity behavior

Abstract

An arrangement includes a solar energy receiving device and at least one component in thermal communication with the solar energy receiving device, the at least one component formed from a composite material, the composite material may comprise a matrix of carbon-based fibers, the carbon-based fibers comprising one or more of: mesophase carbon, carbon nanotubes, graphite, graphene and pan carbon. According to a further optional aspect, there is provided a solar energy receiving device comprising a first surface for receiving solar energy incident thereon, and a second opposing surface, the second surface being electrically conductive; at least one heat transport device in direct contact with at least a portion of the second surface, the at least one heat transport device may comprise at least one internal passage and at least one duct; and a heat transport media flowing within the at least one internal passage and at least one duct. Related methods and additional arrangements are also described.

1 . An arrangement comprising:
 a solar energy receiving device; and   at least one heat transport device in thermal communication with the solar energy receiving device, the at least one heat transport device formed from a composite material, the composite material comprising a matrix of carbon-based fibers, the carbon-based fibers comprising one or more of: mesophase carbon, carbon nanotubes, graphite, graphene and pan carbon.   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material further comprises one or more of a filler contained within the fibers, and a coating disposed thereon,
 the filler comprising one or more of: carbon nanotubes, diamond, boron nitride, aluminum nitride and silver, and   the coating comprising one or more of: aluminum, copper, silver, boron nitride, aluminum nitride, diamond, and carbon nanotubes.   
     
     
         3 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the composite material comprises both the filler and the coating. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the solar energy receiving device comprises a concentrator capable of magnifying the intensity of the sun by at least 1,000 times, and as much as 10,000 times. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the solar energy receiving device comprises a solar cell, the solar cell comprising a first planar surface for receiving solar energy incident thereon, and a second opposing planar surface, the second surface being electrically conductive, wherein the at least one heat transport device is in direct contact with at least a portion of the second surface. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the second surface comprises an electrically conductive thermal interface material. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one heat transport device is in direct contact with the entire second surface. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat transport device has a thermal conductivity in at least one direction of approximately 100-5,000 W/mK. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat transport device has an anisotropic thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the fibers form a woven fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein each of the fibers exhibit a thermal conductivity in the x, y, and z directions, as represented by Kx, Ky, and Kz, wherein Kx>Kz and Ky>Kz. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat transport device comprises one or more of: solar cell packaging material; component mount; connector; thermal interface layer; heat spreader; heat sink; piping; and vapor chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat transport device has a density of at least 80%. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat transport device has a density of at least 89%. 
     
     
         15 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers have a diameter of approximately 2 nm-100 μm. 
     
     
         16 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat transport device comprises a plurality of layers. 
     
     
         17 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat transport device comprises at least one internal passage and at least one duct. 
     
     
         18 . The arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one heat transport device comprises an internal passage and at least one duct, the at least one heat transport device is in direct contact with the second surface. 
     
     
         19 . A heat transport device comprising:
 an internal passage;   at least a portion of the internal passage formed from a composite material, the composite material comprising a matrix of carbon-based fibers, the carbon-based fibers comprising one or more of: mesophase carbon, carbon nanotubes, graphite, graphene and pan carbon.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one duct disposed in the passage; and the at least one duct formed at least in part from the composite material. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the composite material further comprises one or more of a filler contained within the fibers and a coating disposed thereon;
 the filler comprising one or more of: carbon nanotubes, diamond, boron nitride, aluminum nitride and silver, and   the coating comprising one or more of: aluminum, copper, silver, boron nitride, aluminum nitride, diamond, and carbon nanotubes.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the composite material comprises both the filler and the coating. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the composite material has a fiber density of at least 80%. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the composite material has a fiber density of at least 89%. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein at least some of the fibers form a woven fabric. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the composite material has an anisotropic thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein each of the fibers exhibit a thermal conductivity in the x, y, and z directions, as represented by Kx, Ky, and Kz, wherein Kx>Kz and Ky>Kz. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one duct has a height to width ratio of at least 10:1. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one duct comprises at least one of nanogrooves, nanoprojections and carbon nanotubes disposed therein to increased turbulent flow within the at least one duct. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising a heat transfer media contained in the internal passage. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the heat transfer media comprises at least one of: nanoparticles, microparticles, and carbon nanotubes.