Solar receiver

Abstract

In one embodiment, a solar receiver has a base plate having a first surface and a second surface, a plurality of solar cells positioned over and supported by the first surface of the base plate, and a multiplicity of fins extending outwardly from the second surface of the base plate. Each of the multiplicity of fins has a fin height axis extending generally perpendicular relative to the base plate, a fin length axis extending generally in parallel with the base plate, and a bottom end attached to the second surface of the base plate, wherein each of the multiplicity of fins are formed from a single, continuous sheet of metal arranged in a serpentine configuration, and wherein each of the multiplicity of fins have a plurality of undulations along the length axis of the fin.

1 . A solar receiver, comprising:
 a base plate having a first surface and a second surface;   a plurality of solar cells positioned over and supported by the first surface of the base plate, each solar cell having a cell face suitable for receiving solar radiation that faces away from the base plate; and   a multiplicity of fins extending outwardly from the second surface of the base plate, each of the multiplicity of fins having a fin height axis extending generally perpendicular relative to the base plate, a fin length axis extending generally in parallel with the base plate, and a bottom end attached to the second surface of the base plate, wherein each of the multiplicity of fins are formed from a single, continuous sheet of metal arranged in a serpentine configuration, and wherein each of the multiplicity of fins have a plurality of undulations along the length axis of the fin.   
     
     
         2 . The solar receiver of  claim 1 , wherein there are at least four undulations along the length axis of each fin. 
     
     
         3 . The solar receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of undulations have at least four peaks and four valleys along the length axis of each of the multiplicity of fins. 
     
     
         4 . The solar receiver of  claim 1 , wherein a pitch of each of the plurality of undulations is no greater than approximately one undulation per inch. 
     
     
         5 . The solar receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the multiplicity of fins are made from a metal. 
     
     
         6 . The solar receiver of  claim 5 , wherein the multiplicity of fins are made from aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The solar receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom end is substantially flat whereby substantially all of a surface area of the bottom end is attached with the second surface of the base plate. 
     
     
         8 . The solar receiver of  claim 7 , wherein the bottom end is attached to the second surface of the base plate with an adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The solar receiver of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fins has a top end opposite the bottom end and wherein a width of the top end is less than a width of the bottom end. 
     
     
         10 . The solar receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the top end further comprises an opening to facilitate convective air flow. 
     
     
         11 . A solar receiver, comprising:
 a base plate having a first surface and a second surface;   a plurality of solar cells positioned over and supported by the first surface of the base plate, each solar cell having a cell face suitable for receiving solar radiation that faces away from the base plate; and   a multiplicity of fins extending outwardly from the second surface of the base plate, each of multiplicity of fins having a bottom end opposite a top end, the bottom end attached to the second surface of the base plate, wherein the top end has a width less than a width of the bottom end, wherein each of the multiplicity of fins are formed from a single, continuous sheet of metal arranged in a serpentine configuration, and wherein each of the multiplicity of fins have a plurality of undulations along a length axis of the fin.   
     
     
         12 . The solar receiver of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom end is substantially flat whereby substantially all of a surface area of the bottom end is attached with the second surface of the base plate. 
     
     
         13 . The solar receiver of  claim 11 , wherein there are at least four undulations along the length axis of each fin. 
     
     
         14 . The solar receiver of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of undulations have at least four peaks and four valleys along the length axis of each of the multiplicity of fins. 
     
     
         15 . The solar receiver of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom end is attached to the base plate with an adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . The solar receiver of  claim 11 , wherein the multiplicity of fins are made from a metal. 
     
     
         17 . The solar receiver of  claim 11 , wherein the top end further comprises an opening to facilitate convective air flow. 
     
     
         18 . Stackable solar receivers, comprising:
 a first solar receiver, having:
 a first base plate having a first surface and a second surface; 
 a first plurality of solar cells positioned over the first surface of the first base plate, each solar cell having a cell face suitable for receiving solar radiation that faces away from the first base plate; and 
 a first multiplicity of fins extending outwardly from the second surface of the first base plate, each of the first multiplicity of fins are formed from a single, continuous sheet of metal arranged in a serpentine configuration having a bottom end opposite a top end, the bottom end attached directly to the second surface of the first base plate, wherein the top end has a width less than a width of the bottom end; 
   a second solar receiver, having:
 a second base plate having a first surface and a second surface; 
 a second plurality of solar cells positioned over the first surface of the second base plate, each solar cell having a cell face suitable for receiving solar radiation that faces away from the second base plate; and 
 a second multiplicity of fins extending outwardly from the second surface of the second base plate, each of the second multiplicity of fins are formed from a single, continuous sheet of metal arranged in a serpentine configuration having a bottom end opposite a top end, the bottom end attached directly to the second surface of the second base plate, wherein the top end has a width less than a width of the bottom end, 
   wherein the first multiplicity of fins is interleaved with the second multiplicity of fins to stack the first solar receiver with the second solar receiver during transport or storage.   
     
     
         19 . The solar receivers of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first and second multiplicity of fins have a plurality of undulations along a length axis of the fin. 
     
     
         20 . The solar receivers of  claim 19 , wherein an undulating pitch and an undulating phase of each of the plurality of undulations are substantially similar. 
     
     
         21 . The solar receivers of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first multiplicity of fins having a first fin height axis extending generally perpendicular relative to the first base plate and wherein each of the second multiplicity of fins having a second fin height axis extending generally perpendicular relative to the second base plate. 
     
     
         22 . The solar receivers of  claim 21 , wherein the first multiplicity of fins extend substantially the entire second fin height of the second multiplicity of fins when the first multiplicity of fins are interleaved within the second multiplicity of fins.