Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Thermoelectric – Electric power generator
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-23
2004-03-30
Diamond, Alan (Department: 1753)
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Thermoelectric
Electric power generator
C136S206000, C136S215000, C136S216000, C136S224000, C136S246000, C136S259000, C136S253000, C310S300000, C310S306000, C310S308000, C313S523000, C313S524000, C313S539000, C313S542000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06713668
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solar energy converter that converts solar energy emitted from the sun into electric energy and a solar energy conversion system.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, the energy from sources such as thermal power, hydroelectric power and nuclear power, for example, an electric generation system like a rotating electric generator in which conductors are rotated in a magnetic field to force electrons to migrate to generate electricity has been employed so far. Moreover, photovoltaic batteries, comprising semiconductors and widely known as a method of converting solar energy, attracted attention as clean electric energy.
However, there is no guarantee that the use of thermal power generation, hydroelectric power generation and nuclear power generation will provide a stable supply of electricity in the long run as a method of generating electric energy, due to the exhaustion of the resources and limited amount of supply. Moreover, in conventional photovoltaic batteries, the energy conversion efficiency is bad and not practical since the sunlight which can be used by the solar cell is only a part of the spectra of light currently emitted from the sun. Therefore, the cost-performance does not reach a level of practical use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was developed to overcome the drawbacks noted in the preceding paragraph. It offers a more efficient solar energy conversion system as it transforms solar energy into electric energy, utilizing the wavelength domain of the sunlight corresponding to abroad spectra of light emitted from the sun, and will stably supply electric energy over the long term.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a solar energy converter comprises:
a light-concentrating instrument for concentrating sunlight;
an electron emitter in an insulated vacuum vessel, emitting electrons in a vacuum as a temperature rises from irradiation of the sunlight concentrated by said light-concentrating instrument;
an electron accelerator within said light-concentrating instrument;
a cathode on a surface of said electron emitter opposite to a light-irradiated surface which is irradiated by the sunlight, and electrically connected with said electron emitter;
an electric field supplier having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; and
an electron collector in said vacuum vessel, collecting the emitted electrons flying from said electron emitter toward said electron accelerator,
wherein said electron accelerator is connected with the positive terminal of said electric field supplier and said cathode is connected with the negative terminal of said electric field supplier so that an electric field is generated, and said electron collector is used as a negative generator electrode and said cathode is used as a positive generator electrode in which the collected electrons in said electron collector migrate to said electron emitter to generate electricity.
According to the solar energy converter, the electron accelerator is connected with the positive terminal of the electric field supplier and the cathode is connected with the negative terminal of the electric field supplier to generate electric field, the temperature of the electron emitter rises from irradiation of sunlight concentrated by the light-concentrating instrument, and therefore the electron emitter emits electrons into a vacuum. The electron collector collects the emitted electrons and has an excess of electrons. The excessive electrons in the electron collector migrate to the electron emitter lacking electrons through the cathode, and thereby electricity is generated. In this manner, the solar energy converter can convert solar energy concentrated by the light-concentrating instrument into electric energy.
Specifically, the inside of the solar energy converter is kept as a vacuum by using the vacuum vessel, so that there is almost no energy loss that is caused by conduction to the outside or the like. Therefore, electric power generation can be achieved with high efficiency.
Further, since the electron accelerator is provided within the light-concentrating instrument, the electrons emitted from the electron emitter are absorbed in the electron collector without reaching the electron accelerator. Still further, since the electron accelerator is placed within an insulated material, the emitted electrons hardly migrate to the electron accelerator. Therefore, there is almost no leakage-current flow from the electron accelerator and almost no energy loss in this part.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, a solar energy converter comprises:
a light-concentrating instrument for concentrating sunlight;
an electron emitter in an insulated and sealed vessel filled with inert gas, emitting electrons into space as a temperature rises from irradiation of the sunlight concentrated by said light-concentrating instrument;
an electron accelerator within said light-concentrating instrument;
a cathode on a surface of said electron emitter opposite to a light-irradiated surface which is irradiated by the sunlight, and electrically connected with said electron emitter;
an electric field supplier having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; and
an electron collector in said insulated and sealed vessel filled with the inert gas, collecting the emitted electrons flying from said electron emitter toward said electron accelerator,
wherein said electron accelerator is connected with the positive terminal of said electric field supplier and said cathode is connected with the negative terminal of said electric field supplier so that an electric field is generated, and said electron collector is used as a negative generator electrode and said cathode is used as a positive generator electrode in which the collected electrons in said electron collector migrate to said electron emitter to generate electricity.
According to the solar energy converter, the electron accelerator is connected with the positive terminal of the electric field supplier and the cathode is connected with the negative terminal of the electric field supplier to generate electric field, the temperature of the electron emitter rises from irradiation of sunlight concentrated by the light-concentrating instrument, and therefore the electron emitter emits electrons into space. The electron collector collects the emitted electrons and has an excess of electrons. The excessive electrons in the electron collector migrate to the electron emitter lacking electrons through the cathode, and thereby electricity is generated. In this manner, the solar energy converter can convert solar energy concentrated by the light-concentrating instrument into electric energy.
Specifically, since the inside of the solar energy converter is kept full with inert gas by using the sealed vessel, the electron emission efficiency of the electron emitter is preferable. Therefore, the electrons can migrate more efficiently.
Further, since the electron accelerator is provided within the light-concentrating instrument, the electrons emitted from the electron emitter are absorbed in the electron collector without reaching the electron accelerator. Still further, since the electron accelerator is placed within an insulated material, the emitted electrons hardly migrate to the electron accelerator. Therefore, there is almost no leakage-current flow from the electron accelerator and almost no energy loss in this part.
According to the third aspect of the invention, a solar energy converter comprises:
a light-concentrating instrument for concentrating sunlight;
an electron emitter in an insulated vacuum vessel, emitting electrons in a vacuum as a temperature rises from irradiation of the sunlight concentrated by said light-concentrating instrument;
an electron accelerator within said light-concentrating instrument;
a substrate on a surface of said electron emitter opposite to a light-irradiated surface which is irradiated by the sunlight, and electrically con
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