Solar cells arrangement

Abstract

A solar energy conversion system is presented. The system comprises at least one waveguide arrangement having at least one light input respectively. The waveguide arrangement comprises a core unit for passing input solar radiation therethrough and a cladding material arrangement interfacing with the core therealong. The cladding material arrangement is configured as an array of spaced-apart solar cells arranged along the core unit and having different optical absorption ranges, such that an interface between the waveguide core and the cladding arrangement spectrally splits the photons of the input solar radiation by causing the photons of different wavelengths, while passing through the core unit, to be successively absorbed and thereby converted into electricity by the successive solar cells of said array.

1 . A solar energy conversion system comprising:
 at least one hollow tube comprising:   at least two photovoltaic cells having different absorption spectra; and   at least one spectrally-selective element positioned between said at least two cells for providing spectral splitting of input solar energy and directing it onto said cells.   
     
     
         2 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , comprising at least two of said tubes arranged in substantially parallel relationship. 
     
     
         3 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tube is configured as a hollow glass tube. 
     
     
         4 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the spectrally-selective element is a dichroic mirror. 
     
     
         5 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the spectrally-selective element is an inverted V-shaped mirror structure. 
     
     
         6 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 5 , wherein the inverted V-shaped mirror structure is situated over one of the at least two photovoltaic cells. 
     
     
         7 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the at least two photovoltaic cells is facing the inverted V-shaped mirror structure. 
     
     
         8 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 5 , wherein one of the at least two photovoltaic cells is situated between minor elements of the inverted V-shaped mirror structure. 
     
     
         9 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 5 , wherein an apex of the inverted V-shaped mirror structure is situated on top of one of the at least two photovoltaic cells. 
     
     
         10 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the spectrally-selective element is configured to split the input solar energy into high and low energy regions, said two photovoltaic cells being optimized for said energy regions. 
     
     
         11 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 10 , wherein
 at least one of the at least two photovoltaic cells is a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) usable to collect high energy region of the spectrum, and   at least one other of the at least two photovoltaic cells is a polycrystalline Si cell or a CuInSe2-based cell usable for collecting the low energy region of the spectrum.   
     
     
         12 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the tubes is sealed and evacuated. 
     
     
         13 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the tubes is configured as a sealed hollow tube filled with an inert gas or a chemically inert liquid, optical properties of said inert gas or chemically inert liquid matching optical properties of the tube. 
     
     
         14 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one light-collecting mirror associated with said at least one tube. 
     
     
         15 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of said at least one tube is several times greater than a diameter of said tube. 
     
     
         16 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tube is mounted for rotation enabling to tilt it for optimal solar radiation collection. 
     
     
         17 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the photovoltaic cells is electrically connected to an independent electrical circuit, thereby allowing decreasing electrical losses and eliminating need for current matching between the cells. 
     
     
         18 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the photovoltaic cells is electrically connected to an independent electrical circuit, thereby allowing separate replacement of the tube. 
     
     
         19 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the photovoltaic cells has a thin photoactive layer. 
     
     
         20 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tube comprises an antireflection coating. 
     
     
         21 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tube is a circular or elliptical tube. 
     
     
         22 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tube has a varying curvature configured to decrease reflection. 
     
     
         23 . A solar energy conversion system according to  claim 2 , wherein said tubes are arranged to form unified modules configured to permit separate tube replacement.