Photovoltaic receiver

Abstract

A solar receiver can have 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, the plurality of solar cells being arranged in at least one string having a string axis, and a plurality of fins attached directly to the second surface of the base plate, wherein the fins extend outwardly from the second surface of the base plate in a direction that is generally perpendicular to both the string axis and the solar cell faces.

1 . A solar receiver, comprising:
 a metal 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, the plurality of solar cells being arranged in at least one string having a string axis; and   a plurality of fins attached directly to the second surface of the base plate, wherein the fins extend outwardly from the second surface of the base plate in a direction that is generally perpendicular to both the string axis and the solar cell faces, wherein the plurality of fins are formed separately from the base plate and wherein the fins are arranged in a serpentine configuration and are formed from a single, continuous sheet of metal.   
   
   
       2 . A solar receiver as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a transparent encapsulating layer that covers the solar cells. 
   
   
       3 . A solar receiver as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of solar cells are arranged in a single linear string of cells. 
   
   
       4 . A solar receiver as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an electrically insulating layer that covers at least a portion of a first surface of the base plate. 
   
   
       5 . A solar receiver as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fins define a plurality of air flow channels that allow a convective air flow to flow in a direction from a bottom of the base plate to a top of the base plate and the air flow channels are unobstructed by the solar cells. 
   
   
       6 . A solar receiver as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a transparent protective sheet that covers the encapsulant layer. 
   
   
       7 . A solar receiver as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the protective sheet is formed from a plurality of panes, and the solar receiver further comprises an expansion joint between each adjacent pair of panes, the expansion joints being arranged to compensate for differential thermal expansion between the base plate and the protective sheet. 
   
   
       8 . A solar receiver as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a junction box carried on the first surface of the base plate wherein the box is electrically coupled to the solar cell string and includes a junction and a by-pass diode. 
   
   
       9 . An arrangement comprising a first solar receiver as recited in  claim 1 , wherein first sides of the fins are coupled to the base plate of the first solar receiver, the arrangement further comprising a second solar receiver having a second base plate that is coupled to second sides of the fins that are opposite the first sides of the fins. 
   
   
       10 . A solar receiver as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transparent encapsulating layer that covers the solar cells;   a transparent protective sheet that covers the encapsulating layer, wherein the protective sheet is composed of a plurality of panes; and   at least one expansion joint, each expansion joint being positioned between an associated pair of adjacent panes, the expansion joints being arranged to compensate for differential thermal expansion between the base plate and the protective sheet.   
   
   
       11 . A solar receiver as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a junction box carried by the first surface of the base plate, the junction box electrically coupled to the plurality of solar cells.   
   
   
       12 . A solar receiver as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the junction box further includes a bypass diode. 
   
   
       13 . The solar receiver as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a grounding clamp electrically coupled to the base plate. 
   
   
       14 . A solar receiver as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a thin conformal electrically insulating layer that covers at least a portion of a first surface the base plate;   a first encapsulating layer carried by the base plate that covers the thin conformal electrically insulating layer, wherein the plurality of solar cells are positioned over the first encapsulating layer and supported by the first surface of the base plate; and   a transparent second encapsulating layer that covers the solar cells.   
   
   
       15 . The solar receiver as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the base plate is precoated with the thin conformal electrically insulating layer, and wherein the first encapsulant layer, the solar cells and the second encapsulant layer are laminated together.