Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on July 12, 2008 - 5:57am.
I've looked into the issue of ultra high energy efficiency conversion solar before, and found an interesting design called the multi tower solar array (MTSA). It's a fresnel multi tower design that captures about 90 percent of the available beam, and focuses that onto a reveiver. The receiver is divided into two parts, one thermal, one PV wavelengths. The beam is split by a beam splitting coating. PV on the top, a heat engine on the bottom.
Another promising option is infrared nano-antenna technology. Up to 80 percent conversion efficiency could be achieved. Because the design converts infrared - heat - it could use cheap thermal storage to produce a longer portion of the day.
I've looked into the issue
I've looked into the issue of ultra high energy efficiency conversion solar before, and found an interesting design called the multi tower solar array (MTSA). It's a fresnel multi tower design that captures about 90 percent of the available beam, and focuses that onto a reveiver. The receiver is divided into two parts, one thermal, one PV wavelengths. The beam is split by a beam splitting coating. PV on the top, a heat engine on the bottom.
Another promising option is infrared nano-antenna technology. Up to 80 percent conversion efficiency could be achieved. Because the design converts infrared - heat - it could use cheap thermal storage to produce a longer portion of the day.