The Solar Sheath uses nested nanotube multi-process integration to capture unabsorbed energy within the solar cell footprint

Concept

How can electromagnetic radiation not successfully caught by a solar cell and radiation converted into thermal energy be useful to a solar cell? My concept in early development, known as the Solar Sheath, is to introduce a means of thermal energy transfer from a metallic material using round nanotubes made from a thermally conductive conduit such as polyphenylene sulfide through which the interior carries a flowing medium. The medium could be helium, sulfur hexafluoride or a liquid such as water used to carry the thermal energy from the metallic material sandwiched between two nanotubes.

Data collected from the Phase 1 study indicate that being able to remove thermal energy from the solar cell actually improves the electrical output of the solar cell.

The second part of the Solar Sheath, to address radiation that passes through the solar cell material unabsorbed, involves having the same nanotubes spiral wound with a conductor such as copper (metallic material) to absorb a portion of that free-flowing radiation which would be transformed into additional electricity as that radiation interacts with it.

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Placement of the nanotubes within the solar cell replaces the traditional negative collector plates positioned on top of the solar cell after an arched collector strip is added to the nanotubes.

Solar Sheath Applications

In terms of using a series of Solar Sheath solar cells gathering kinetic energy as a byproduct of the radiation gathering process of the metallic material, collectively they could perform the task of elevating the temperature of a water reservoir by circulating the gas or liquid contained in the nanotubes through a coil immersed in or surrounding the water reservoir. In application this means that the same square footage consumed by the collection of solar cells to generate electricity can also be used to generate heat for water. On a large scale it may be possible to maximize the electrical output of Solar Sheath solar cells by focusing a maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation upon them through the use of optical lenses or reflectors wherein the cells would approach their maximum operating temperature, and the resultant kinetic energy absorbed by the Solar Sheath technology may be great enough to power a turbine to generate additional electricity from the elevated temperature of the gas or liquid medium travelling through the nanotubes.

As previously indicated, additional electrical potential may be harnessed from the metallic winding around the nanotubes as those windings interact with radiation bombardment that the solar cell is unable to convert to electricity. The use of nano technology as previously described may allow the solar cell to capitalize on multiple methods of capturing and using energy in the same footprint as common solar cells that are seen today. As land becomes increasingly scarce, the capability of solar cells to perform multiple roles, with greater efficiency, will become more important. The possible application of the Solar Sheath does not necessarily need to be confined to the boundaries of Earth’s surface. With exorbitant costs involved with the maintenance of the International Space Station (ISS), and space flight in general, the multi-purpose nature of the Solar Sheath could be an alternative to traditional solar, thermal and other energy capturing systems.

Photo: Courtesy UAT Digital Daze On Exhibit at Science Center	Photo: Courtesy UAT Innovator with Project
Academic publication regarding the Solar Sheath	Photo: Courtesy Geek411 Solar Sheath & Quantum Tech

Prototype Phases

The progression of the Solar Sheath to a first-generation prototype involves three phases as described below.

Phase 1 [completed]
Preliminary identification and testing a thermally conductive material capable of transferring thermal energy from a metallic material. In a simple scenario a solar cell (which the nanotube assemblies would reside) is used. PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) has been identified and tested as being capable of fulfilling this role. See "Experiment Data", "Materials", and "Construction" under Phase 1 at the top of the page.

Phase 2
Fabrication of nested nanotube structures that will allow the inner nanotube to act as a conduit for a flowing medium such as gas or fluid, that casing wound by conductive wire or conductive structures; the outer casing envelopes the inner nanotube, wire or conductive structures and itself is partially coated with a collector.

Phase 3
Joining the nanotube fabrication to the surface of a solar cell, replacing the traditional collector grid.

Phase 1: Experiment Data

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Photos: 1000 Watt Flood Test

In order to determine the thermal conduction properties of the PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) material in a setting where it is used in conjunction with a solar cell to be ultimately used as the thermal conduit for the metallic material sheathed in the nanotubes, a prototype (Phase 1) was constructed to measure the thermal transfer ratios from the solar cell, to the PPS material and finally to a closed fluid circulatory system with a heat dissipating reservoir. As a control set, an isolated solar cell and PPS material base along with an isolated reservoir were also setup so thermal properties could be compared.

Legend:
M1 - Thermometer #1 measuring thermal activity (Fahrenheit) of isolated fluid reservoir #1.
M2 - Thermometer #2 measuring thermal activity (Fahrenheit) of isolated PPS material.
M3 - Thermometer #3 measuring surface thermal activity (Fahrenheit) of isolated solar cell.
D1 - Digital Multimeter measuring volts generated by isolated solar cell.
M4 - Thermometer #4 measuring thermal activity (Fahrenheit) of heat dissipating fluid reservoir #2 circulating fluid through PPS material.
M5 - Thermometer #5 measuring thermal activity (Fahrenheit) of PPS material with circulating fluid.
M6 - Thermometer #6 measuring surface thermal activity (Fahrenheit) of solar cell mounted on PPS material with circulating fluid.
D2 - Digital Multimeter measuring volts generated by solar cell mounted on PPS material with circulating fluid.

After the 1000 Watt halogen light system (Utilitech Model# WL500RDPT-L) was put in place and operational indoors for 45 minutes, approximately six inches from the solar cells, periodic measurements were recorded at 15 minute intervals as shown in the chart below.

Control: Isolated, Non-Circulatory System				Test: Interconnected, Circulatory System
M1	M2	M3	D1	M4	M5	M6	D2
79.6	113.4	142.6	.453V	83.7	96.4	124.7	.502V