| abstract |
Solar electricity generation methods and apparatus are disclosed. In one general aspect, a solar cell is positioned to receive concentrated solar radiation and convert part of it into electricity and part of it into heat. A first heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the solar cell and includes microchannels that have a cross-sectional dimension to the center of the channel that is about equal to or less than the thermal boundary layer thickness for a working fluid. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the photovoltaic solar cell to the working fluid in the microchannels, and a second heat exchanger can then receive the transferred heat via a conduit. This heat can be used to generate additional electricity. |