Apparatus for enhancing the output of photovoltaic solar cells

Claim 1

Apparatus for generating electrical energy in a terrestrial environment comprising at least one photovoltaic cell, means for defining a liquid impervious closed chamber for containing said cell, said chamber defining means including a parabolic wall, said parabolic wall defining a solar energy pervious window therein, means for supporting said cell within said chamber adjacent to and spaced from said window by a distance, said parabolic wall having a reflective concave surface, means including said reflective concave surface for concentrating solar energy onto said cell through said window, a quantity of nonconductive liquid means substantially filling said chamber and surrounding said cell for absorbing heat energy therefrom, said quantity of said liquid energy absorbing means being sufficiently large to absorb and store heat energy from said photovoltaic cell to limit the temperature rise of said cell during the solar energy producing portion of a diurnal period, said distance being large enough to allow liquid circulation between said cell and said window and small enough to avoid substantial absorption of solar energy by the liquid means, the chamber defined by said chamber defining means having sufficient external surface area to afford transfer of heat from said liquid to the environment during the remainder of the diurnal period.