Think Round: Korean Company Develops Spherical Solar Cell
by Mary Anne Simpson
Kyosemi Corporation has developed a highly efficient round solar
cell. The Sphelar is a registered trademark of Kyosemi Corp. The
advantages of the Sphelar is its unique ability to capture the sun
in all directions and utilize indirect and diffuse light. The other
feature is in production. It utilizes a method wherein there is
little waste of silicon.
The South Korean Company Kyosemi Corporation has developed a
spherical solar cell called the Sphelar. Given the spherical like
shape Sphelar is capable of greater power efficiency and
flexibility in applications than conventional flat solar cell
panels. The product measures 1 mm in diameter.
The Sphelar has the unique ability to follow the sun due to its
round shape. As the sun takes on different positions dependent on
the season or time of day, the Sphelar is capable of capturing the
sun rays. Sphelar captures light from all directions. It can
capture reflected light and diffused light. Due to its shape the
Sphelar by design can capture the sun without artificially having
to track the sun as with ordinary flat solar cell panels. The
Sphelar light sensitive surface is therefore able to achieve high
energy efficiency.
The unique design of the Sphelar with a diameter of only 1 mm to
1.5 mm allows it to be installed in a variety of energy efficient
settings. It can be placed in a parallel format or in a series. The
advantage of the Sphelar is that it will not block views as some
conventional flat solar cell panels have been found to do.
Sphelar is efficient from a manufacturing stand point. As opposed
to conventional flat solar cell manufacturing the Sphelar has
little or no waste product. The Sphelar is made by a process of
melted silicon is subjected to free fall, wherein spheres are
created naturally by the microgravity conditions. The result is
literally no waste of raw materials. This feature is cost effective
and provides efficient use of the rare component silicon.
According to Kyosemi Corp. the production costs in producing
Sphelar are halved as compared to the conventional production of
flat solar cell panels. In addition, the Sphelar is environmentally
friendly both in production and in use.
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