Solar thermoelectric power generation system, and process for making same

Abstract

A solar thermoelectric power generation system includes roofing products such as shingles with solar heat reflective areas and roofing products with solar heat absorptive areas. Thermoelectric power generating elements are provided in thermal contact with the solar heat reflective areas and the solar heat absorptive areas.

1 . A solar thermoelectric power generation system, the system comprising:
 (a) a roofing shingle including at least one solar heat reflective area;   (b) a roofing shingle including at least one solar heat absorptive area;   (c) at least one thermoelectric power generating element in thermal contact with the at least one solar heat reflective area and the at least one solar heat absorptive area.   
     
     
         2 . A solar thermoelectric power generation system according to  claim 1 , the at least one thermoelectric power generating element having a first junction in thermal contact with the at least one solar heat reflective area and a second junction in thermal contact with the at least one solar heat absorptive area. 
     
     
         3 . A solar thermoelectric power generation system according to  claim 1 , the system comprising a roofing shingle including both at least one solar heat reflective area and at least one solar heat absorptive area. 
     
     
         4 . A solar thermoelectric power generation system according to  claim 1 , the at least one solar heat reflective area differing in E* from the at least one solar heat absorptive area no more than 10. 
     
     
         5 . A solar thermoelectric power generation system according to  claim 4 , the at least one solar heat reflective area differing in E* from the at least one solar heat absorptive area by no more than 5. 
     
     
         6 . A solar thermoelectric power generation system according to  claim 5 , the at least one solar heat reflective area differing in E* from the at least one solar heat absorptive area no more than 2. 
     
     
         7 . A solar thermoelectric power generating system according to  claim 1 , the system including a plurality of thermoelectric power generating elements electrically connected in series to provide a predefined output voltage. 
     
     
         8 . A solar thermoelectric power generating system according to  claim 1 , the solar heat reflective area including solar heat reflective roofing granules. 
     
     
         9 . A solar thermoelectric power generating system according to  claim 1 , the solar heat absorptive area including solar heat absorptive roofing granules. 
     
     
         10 . A solar thermoelectric power generating system according to  claim 1 , further comprising thermal insulation between the solar heat reflective area and the solar heat absorptive area. 
     
     
         11 . A roofing product for use in a solar thermoelectric power generating system, the roofing shingle comprising:
 (a) at least one solar heat reflective area;   (b) at least one solar heat absorptive area;   (c) at least one thermoelectric power generating element in thermal contact with the at least one solar heat reflective area and the at least one solar heat absorptive area.   
     
     
         12 . A roofing product for use in a solar thermoelectric power generating system according to  claim 11 , the at least one thermoelectric power generating element having a first junction in thermal contact with the at least one solar heat reflective area and a second junction in thermal contact with the at least one solar heat absorptive area. 
     
     
         13 . A roofing product for use in a solar thermoelectric power generating system according to  claim 11 , the at least one solar heat reflective area differing in E* from the at least one solar heat absorptive area by less than 10. 
     
     
         14 . A roofing product for use in a solar thermoelectric power generating system according to  claim 13 , the at least one solar heat reflective area differing in E* from the at least one solar heat absorptive area by less than 5. 
     
     
         15 . A roofing product for use in a solar thermoelectric power generating system according to  claim 14 , the at least one solar heat reflective area differing in E* from the at least one solar heat absorptive area by less than 2. 
     
     
         16 . A roofing product for use in a solar thermoelectric power generating system according to  claim 11 , the system including a plurality of thermoelectric power generating elements electrically connected in series to provide a predefined output voltage. 
     
     
         17 . A roofing product for use in a solar thermoelectric power generating system according to  claim 11 , the solar heat reflective area including solar heat reflective roofing granules. 
     
     
         18 . A roofing product for use in a solar thermoelectric power generating system according to  claim 11 , the solar heat absorptive area including solar heat absorptive roofing granules. 
     
     
         19 . A roofing product for use in a solar thermoelectric power generating system according to  claim 11 , further comprising thermal insulation between the solar heat reflective area and the solar heat absorptive area. 
     
     
         20 . A method of generating electric power, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a roofing product including at least one solar heat reflective area;   (b) providing a roofing product including at least one solar heat absorptive area;   (c) providing at least one thermoelectric element in thermal contact with the at least one solar heat reflective area and the at least one solar heat absorptive area;   (d) exposing the roofing products to solar radiation; and   (e) drawing electric current from the at least one thermoelectric element.   
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the at least one thermoelectric element has a first junction in thermal contact with the at least one solar heat reflective area and a second junction in thermal contact with the at least one solar heat absorptive area. 
     
     
         22 . A process for making a solar thermoelectric power generating system, the process comprising:
 (a) providing a roofing product including at least one solar heat reflective area;   (b) providing a roofing product including at least one solar heat absorptive area;   (c) providing at least one thermoelectric element in thermal contact with the at least one solar heat reflective area and the at least one solar heat absorptive area; and   (d) installing the roofing products on a roof.   
     
     
         23 . A roofing product for use in a solar thermoelectric power generating system, the roofing product comprising:
 (a) a first one solar heat reflective area having a first average solar reflectivity, the first area being at least 5 mm 2 ; and   (b) a second solar heat reflective area having a second average solar reflectivity, the second area being at least 5 mm 2 ; wherein the difference between the first solar heat reflectivity and the second solar heat reflectivity is at least five percent.   
     
     
         24 . A roofing product according to  claim 23  wherein the difference between the first solar heat reflectivity and the second solar heat reflectivity is at least ten percent. 
     
     
         25 . A roofing product according to  claim 23  wherein the difference between the first solar heat reflectivity and the second solar heat reflectivity is at least twenty percent. 
     
     
         26 . A solar thermoelectric power generation system, the system comprising:
 (a) an overlay for a roofing product, the overlay including:
 at least one solar heat reflective area; and 
 at least one solar heat absorptive area; and 
   (b) at least one thermoelectric power generating element in thermal contact with the at least one solar heat reflective area and the at least one solar heat absorptive area.