Patent · US Expired

Photovoltaic system using reflected solar rays of the surroundings and method therefor, to dispose of snow, frost and ice

US5368654A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
1References
20Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 14, 1993
Grant dateNov 29, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 14, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

This invention relates to a photovoltaic system comprising a casing having mounted therein a plurality of solar cells. The casing has a front and opposite thereto, a rear. The front of the casing is provided with a light-transmitting panel for transmitting solar light to the solar cells. The rear is a double wall. A first wall is in contact with the back of the solar cells, and on its side away from the solar cells is of a dark-opaque color, i.e. a solar light absorbing surface. The second wall is a light-transmitting enclosure of the dark-opaque colored side of the first wall, but spaced therefrom so as to produce a greenhouse effect. A method to remove snow, frost, and ice over a photovoltaic system involves maintaining the light-transmitting panel at an angle with the horizontal, receiving reflected solar rays from the surroundings of the photovoltaic systems through the light-transmitting enclosure to the outer side of dark-opaque color to be absorbed by the outer side and converted into heat to be transmitted to, and thereby to raise the temperature of the light-transmitting panel. Simultaneously, the light-transmitting enclosure creates a greenhouse effect and thereby an addi…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.