Method for converting solar energy

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for converting solar energy, comprises the following step of: providing a photovoltaic panel comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells for gathering solar energy and converting the incident solar energy into electric energy; providing a multi-layer assembly comprising N layers, each layer adapted to contain a fluid stream; distributing the fluid streams to be heated into the N layers; rising temperature of the fluid streams within each layer of the multi-layer assembly by the heating of the multi-layer assembly and the photovoltaic panel; and collecting the heated fluid stream from the N layers; wherein N is a positive integer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for generating electric energy and heated fluid, said method comprising the following steps:
 providing a photovoltaic panel comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells for gathering solar energy and converting the incident solar energy into electric energy;   providing a multi-layer assembly comprising N layers, each layer adapted to contain a fluid stream;   distributing the fluid streams to be heated into the N layers;   rising temperature of the fluid streams within each layer of the multi-layer assembly by the heating of the multi-layer assembly and the photovoltaic panel; and   collecting the heated fluid stream from the N layers;   wherein N is a positive integer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid streams within the N layers comprise at least two types of fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer assembly is made manufactured by an extrusion process. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer assembly is coated with a surface coating for enhancing protection from corrosive atmospheres and absorption of the infra-red spectrum of the incident solar energy. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each layer of the multi-layer assembly comprises the plurality of channels, the channels of all the layers form a pattern of honey-comb in a cross-sectional view along an extension direction of the channels. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the following step:
 receiving the fluid stream from a fluid source.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the following step:
 generating a turbulent flow in the each fluid stream for increasing a heat transfer efficiency of the corresponding fluid stream.