Reducing PV I2R losses electronically?

Hi All,

I wonder if anyone here has ever taken a look at US patent 4024410, “Alternating Current Energy Converter” invented by Dr. Reinhard Dahlberg? It describes a straightforward way to make many direct energy converters like solar cells, thermoelectric generators, and fuel cells more efficient. I believe this technology could be extremely useful in reducing thermal losses in all sorts of energy systems.

Example 6 using a PV panel is on pg. 14, referencing fig. 6 on pg. 5. In his example, the output power approaches Iss * Voc, which is of course a considerable improvement on normal performance.

The initial discussion of the operating principle is on pg. 11, col. 2, line 45, referring to the simplified thermoelectric generator shown in fig. 1 on pg. 2-- but the method seems broadly general. In a nutshell, by adding the DC output of a direct energy converter of whatever type to each pole of an already existing AC current, and then controlling this current with capacitive reactance, the current in the converter is reduced, reducing I2R losses.

His fig. 6 example using a PV panel is a bit more complex. A 5 Hz AC current is fed through transformer 8. Thyristor sets 3 and 4 switch the PV panel output so it is continuously in line with the AC current. This summed current is put through load 9 and capacitor 7 in parallel. Current is determined by the well known relation Irms = Vrms/Xc at the given frequency. It will be noted that the current, and thus I2R losses, can be controlled almost arbitrarily by choice of operating frequency.

Dahlberg was a well-known engineer working for Siemens and AG Telefunken in the 70s and 80s, and was one of the first advocates of large scale solar power. At one point he spoke before Congress on the subject. He has more than 80 semiconductor patents. This, and the simple and lawful nature of the principle described, inclines me to think that this is worthy of consideration by today's solar and thermoelectric engineers. I am not a builder but a patent researcher so I can only post this information and hope that someone will test it.

Fred