A photovoltaic device and related methods. The device has a nanostructured material positioned between an electron collecting electrode and a hole collecting electrode. An electron transporting/hole blocking material is positioned between the electron collecting electrode and the nanostructured material. In a specific embodiment, negatively charged carriers generated by optical absorption by the nanostructured material are preferentially separated into the electron transporting/hole blocking material. In a specific embodiment, the nanostructured material has an optical absorption coefficient of at least 103 cm-1 for light comprised of wavelengths within the range of about 400 nm to about 700 nm.

Method and structure for thin film photovoltaic materials using bulk semiconductor materials

A solar-powered power generation system and an associated method are provided. The system includes at least one trough solar absorption device for heating a heat transfer fluid to a first temperature, and at least one tower solar absorption device for further heating the transfer fluid to a second temperature. Thus, the generation system can efficiently heat the transfer fluid to high temperatures. Subsequently, the heated fluid can be used, e.g., to generate steam and/or electricity.

Solar power system and method for power generation

A fiber velvet comprising nano-size fibers or nanofibrils attached to micro-size fibers is disclosed. Methods of manufacturing the velvet as well as various uses of the velvet are also described. For example, the fiber velvet can be used as a thermal interface or as an adhesive material. The nanofibrils may be attached to a flat base or membrane, or may be attached to the tip portions of the micro-size or larger diameter fibers. Various attributes of the micro-size fibers and of the nano-size fibers, for example, geometry (e.g. size, length, packing density) material type (e.g. carbon, metal, polymer, or ceramic) and properties (e.g. conductivity, modulus, surface energy, dielectric constant, surface roughness) can be selected depending on the desired attributes of the fiber velvet. The nanofibrils have a diameter of less than about 1 micron, and may advantageously be formed from single walled and/or multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

Fiber adhesive material

An apparatus and method for collecting solar energy are provided. The apparatus is a trough-type solar collector having one or more mirrors and lenses for directing solar radiation toward a receiver configured to receive a heat transfer fluid therein. The amount of solar radiation directed toward the receiver can be controlled by adjusting one or more of the mirrors and/or lenses or by adjusting a shade. Thus, the collector can direct different amounts or solar radiation toward the receiver, thereby selectively heating the receiver at different rates, e.g., to preheat the receiver, to heat fluid in the receiver for power generation, or to thaw solidified fluid in the receiver. Subsequently, the heated fluid can be used to generate steam and/or electricity.

Solar collector and method

A light weight photovoltaic concentrator having a foldable, easily deployed structure for concentrating solar rays on solar cells for generating electricity is disclosed. The photovoltaic concentrator features a concentrator which can be inflated, for ease of deployment, to a shape for reflecting sunlight onto solar cells. The solar cells are protected from overheating by a protective infrared coating and by being attached to a heat pipe with a fin for radiating excess heat. The inflatable concentrator is inflated by gas stored in the central arm which supports one end of the concentrator. The concentrator is inflated until the epicenters of the front and rear surfaces reach a specified distance and the concentrator is thereafter maintained at this position by addition of additional gas as needed to compensate for leakage. The concentrator may have a means of stiffening the inflated reflective surface by chemical changes activated after the concentrator is deployed. The concentrator may also be made of a more rigid material rather than be inflatable.

Photovoltaic concentrator system

A photovoltaic electric power system for use in space A self contained sun powered electric power generating system comprising a fresnel mirror array made up of a plurality of quadrilateral mirrors individually mounted on a generally flat supporting structure with the mirrors aimed at a common point above the structure, a photovoltaic array positioned at the common point by a movable strut mechanism, heat exchanger means at the PV array to draw excess heat therefrom, coolant lines from the heat exchanger means running through the struts to transfer heat to heat pipes configured as flat panels at the edges of and perpendicular to the supporting structure, and positioning means attached to a separate structure to enable the system to track the sun The system is designed to fold into itself in the form of an elongate box for launch, maneuvering and protection

Advanced survivable space solar power system

A geodome tower reflector for a beam down optics solar power system has three equidistantly spaced tower assemblies. A geodome reflector assembly is movably mounted to the plurality of tower assemblies for vertical movement along the plurality of tower assemblies. The geodome reflector assembly has a facet support structure. The facet support has a plurality of rigid frames to which facets are mounted. Each facet has a downwardly facing mirror for reflecting light from a heliostat to a receiver of the beam down optics solar power system.

Geometric dome stowable tower reflector

A heat pipe radiator coating of a fibrous material provides protection for the radiator, such as a heat pipe, pumped loop, etc., while allowing good emissivity and heat rejection. Fibers are constructed from fiberglass, glass, quartz, saphire, diamond, carbon carbon, tantalum, stainless steel, aluminum, beryllium, and copper, and may be coated with a variety of metallic materials.

Advanced survivable radiator

A rolled belt heat exchanger utilizes the increased heat transfer due to a large, extended surface belt. Heat is transferred from a heated roller to the belt, and then allowed to radiate to space as the belt follows a generally flattened oval path away from the heated roller.

Moving belt radiator heat exchanger

A valve assembly for transferring fluid from a fluid supply tank to a fluid holding tank. The valve assembly includes a housing having a first port for communication with the fluid supply tank and a second port for communication with the fluid holding tank. A drum is rotatably mounted in the housing and has a passageway therein. The passageway has an opening located at each end thereof positioned on an outer surface of the drum for alignment with one of the ports in the housing. The drum is rotatable between a flow position in which the openings are aligned with the ports to permit fluid flow from the fluid supply tank to the fluid holding tank and a shut-off position in which one of the openings is not aligned with the ports to prevent flow from the supply tank to the holding tank. The valve assembly further comprises an actuator for rotating the drum within the housing between the fluid flow and shut-off positions. The housing is sealingly engageable with the fluid supply tank around a periphery of an aperture in the tank for sealingly closing the aperture in the tank.

Nelson E. Jones

Papers

Advanced survivable space solar power system

Geometric dome stowable tower reflector

Advanced survivable radiator

Moving belt radiator heat exchanger

Valve assembly for fluid transfer system