Solar heat-and-light energy collector - both absorbs heat and converts light to electricity

摘要

In a single constructional unit the sun's heat is absorbed, its light is converted to photo-electricity, and both are collected for delivery. Pref. the heat is absorbed in a collector plate and transferred to a heat-exchanger fluid in a pipe; the light energy falling on the solar cells is delivered to an electric cable-connector. The solar battery may have photo elements carried on a metal plate or thin-film cells on plastic foil. The heat-absorbing collector plate may be given a photo-electric coating.