The theoretical efficiency of the cells will increase from 31% to 70%; A patent was registered and the start-up company was established in Arava
Technion researchers have found a way to significantly improve the efficiency of photovoltaic cells. This is what the scientific journal PRA (Physical Review A) publishes. The Technion registered a patent and the start-up company Solariphy was established in Arava, financed by the venture capital company Capital-Nature and the chief scientist of the TMS, which develops a system that absorbs sunlight in the broad spectrum and emits it in the area where the photovoltaic cell works at full efficiency.
Today such a cell only operates at 31% theoretical efficiency, and the company with the Technion researchers aim to bring this theoretical efficiency close to 70%. This is a huge saving in space (today these cells require roofs and very wide surfaces).
Professor Levi Shechter from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, who guided Mr. Ariel Reiser in his higher studies, explains: "Many of the phenomena we take for granted, and one of them is sunlight. We see it as bright white light, and only the rainbow is a daily indication for us of the colors found in this light. A quantitative description of these different colors was developed by Max Planck at the beginning of the last century."
"Based on the fact that light can be characterized based on its color (wavelength) and intensity, he linked these two variables to body heat, on the express assumption that it is much greater than the wavelength of the radiation. At the other extreme, not of a large body like the Sun, but of the tip of a needle heated by a flame, Planck's theory correctly describes the red light we see at the tip. Since Planck's formula does not depend on the properties of the material, it is considered a formula that describes the upper limit of what a material can radiate at a given temperature. As part of the article we published in PRA, we showed that if the characteristic dimensions of the radiating body are on the order of the wavelength, the intensity it radiates, in a narrow range of wavelength, may significantly exceed the prediction of Planck's theory. This fact is important in everything related to utilizing radiation from hot bodies and turning it into electricity."
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As someone who knows the subject well and is also involved in it, everything written in it sucks from the finger. Spectral conversion to increase the efficiency of solar cells has been known since the 70s. The inventor is Prof. Riesfeld from the University of Jerusalem. I initiated the establishment of Green Sun Energy Ltd. Website: http://www.greensun.biz Based on Prof. Riesfeld's invention. The results were not impressive and not planned for commercial production. Theoretically in spectral conversion, it is possible on the basis of silicon to reach 21% of the maximum. By using a multi-layer node it is possible to reach about 25% efficiency. There are patents on the matter: US20120024345A1, US4367367 that describe exactly what is involved. If they work this way, there is nothing new here. It is likely that there is another element that utilizes the heat of the panel, which adds another 6%. Those interested in more information should leave their phone number for a call back.
small question -
There is a difference between the photoelectric effect
And the photovoltaic effect?
For those interested in more comprehensive details, a link to an interview with Prof. Carmel Rothschild, from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Technion, on the subject from the scientific podcast Dr. Lema
http://www.icast.co.il/default.aspx?p=Podcast&id=402530&cid=433176
Chapter 37 - Nanotechnology - what it is and how it serves us
Those who don't want to listen to the whole program should skip to minute 33:50
These are minutes 33:50-41:05
In principle, this is about converting about 20% of the sun's energy in the invisible infrared range to wavelengths that the photovoltaic cells are able to utilize, energy that is not currently being used, thus greatly increasing their efficiency.
The explanation is very simple: "a system that absorbs the sunlight in the maximum spectrum and emits it in the area where the photovoltaic cell works at full efficiency" - probably converting a wavelength that cannot be used into a wavelength that can be used.
Like on the Wednesday evening before submission, when you could take advantage of the works that had already been submitted to the cells in Fischbach and convert them to your work...
Is there anything left from Fischbach's labyrinth?
A problematic article. A patent can only be registered on a technological innovation and not on a principle,
But nowhere is it written what the technological innovation itself is, but only in principle
What he supposedly allows. In any case, as soon as a patent (technological innovation) is registered
It is supposed to be published and therefore there could be no obstacle to publishing it
Also on this respectable website, but as mentioned, the article does not deal with this.
An article like this raises many more questions than answers and maybe it would have been better
Consider publishing it in the first place.
It seems to me that they simply filter the infrared light that causes the photovoltaic cells to heat up.
As we know, cell efficiency is getting smaller as the cell gets hotter. And so, in my opinion, they put a light filter that filters the infrared light, which results in an accelerated heating of the photovoltaic cells, thereby increasing the efficiency of the cells that are more efficient at low temperatures.
Correct me if I'm wrong...
Enlarged image:
https://www.hayadan.org.il/images/content3/2012/06/photovoltaic-cells-500×375.jpg
indeed puzzling. Those who work in photovoltaic conversion know that, given a certain cell, increasing the efficiency by even a single percent will win the researcher many prizes. So going from 31 percent to 70 requires a bit of explanation.
I assume the discussion is about the theoretical cell barrier of silicon. If I remember correctly, in a theoretical photovoltaic cell the idea is that a photon excites an electron from an energy state that cannot conduct electricity to an energy state that can. Between the states there is a forbidden energy gap where an electron cannot be found. That is, the photon must have enough energy (short enough wavelength) to raise the electron above the forbidden energies. On the other hand, if the photon has too much energy, the excess energy will mostly be wasted on generating heat. Within this narrow range we are left with reduced utility.
But how does this relate to Planck's matter? I would appreciate an explanation from those involved in the craft.
And kosher for the public, the abstract of the article:
Planck's formula for blackbody radiation was formulated subject to the assumption that the radiating body is much larger than the emitted wavelength. We demonstrate that thermal radiation exceeding Planck's law may occur in a narrow spectral range when the local radius of curvature is comparable with the wavelength of the emitted radiation. Although locally the spectral enhancement may be of several orders of magnitude, the deviation from the Stefan-Boltzmann law is less than one order of magnitude. The fluctuation-dissipation theorem needs to be employed for adequate assessment of the spectrum in this regime. Several simple examples are presented as well as experimental results demonstrating the effect. For each configuration a geometric form factor needs to be incorporated into Planck's formula in order to properly describe the emitted radiation.
Yes, that's what the article claims.
How did they do it, what process did they use, what is the breakthrough? They didn't bother to say that.
A redundant article in its current state.
If I understand correctly (and there is a good chance that I don't understand correctly) - then they managed to use the sunlight for England twice as efficiently as they have been able to use it until today - really amazing
Not only syntax but also program. This is the work of the Technion public relations, but the responsibility also lies with the researchers involved who have to accompany and check the messages that go out.
I'm a Technion graduate, I understand a bit of physics, I also know Planck's theories
But I have never read such a syntactically delusional article
Each sentence seems to have come from a different location
Maybe we can simply send a spaceship to bring here a piece of the sun and then all our energy problems will be solved?
Dror, what's the question?
??
?