Claims
- 1. A method for annealing photovoltaic cells in space, said cells being substantially at the focus of a solar energy concentrator, said focus having a flux density and an effective area, comprising the steps of:
- increasing said flux density of said focus and decreased said effective area of said focus on said cells, thereby causing increased localized heating in said effective area on said cells, said localized heating acting to rejuvenate electrical characteristics of said cells;
- moving said effective area across said cells, thereby subjecting additional surface area of said cell to said localized heating.
- 2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of increasing said flux density and decreasing said effective area comprises changing the radius of curvature of said solar energy concentrator.
- 3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of moving said effective area comprises changing the optical alignment of said solar energy concentrator with respect to the sun.
- 4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of increasing said flux density and decreasing said effective area comprises changing the distance between the cells and the solar energy concentrator.
- 5. A solar collector for use in space, comprising:
- a curved reflector which redirects incoming solar energy to a focus location,
- a photovoltaic cell, positioned in proximity to said focus location, said cell intercepting said energy, said intercepted energy having a flux density and an effective area,
- means for remotely increasing said flux density and decreasing said effective area, thereby producing localized heating in said effective area.
- 6. A solar collector as recited in claim 5, further comprising means for moving said effective area across said cells, thereby subjecting additional portions of said cells to said localized heating.
- 7. A solar collector as recited in claim 5, wherein said means for remotely increasing said flux density and decreasing said effective area comprises means for changing the radius of curvature of said curved reflector.
- 8. A solar collector as recited in claim 5, wherein said means for remotely increasing said flux density and decreasing said effective area comprises means for changing the distance between said curved reflector and said photovoltaic cell.
- 9. A solar collector as recited in claim 6, wherein said means for moving said effective area across said cells comprises means for changing the optical alignment of said curved reflector with respect to the sun.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/800,219 filed 11/21/85, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,903.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3597281 |
Webb |
Aug 1971 |
|
4494302 |
Knechtli et al. |
Jan 1985 |
|
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
800219 |
Nov 1985 |
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