Patent ID: 7127894

Claim:
A solar thermal energy conversion system comprising: a floating solar cell for disposition on the surface of a body of water comprising: an enclosure having a solar energy transparent upper panel spaced upwardly from the surface of said water body so as to define an airspace thereabove, and a lower panel spaced below the surface of said water body so as to define a cavity filled with a portion of said body of water; an insulating wall on the periphery of said enclosure extending downwardly therefrom into said body of water to encompass a column of water positioned beneath said enclosure; a vertical water vapor conduit having an upper end communicating with the airspace in said enclosure and a lower end extending below said lower panel of said enclosure further into said body of water; a vapor condenser, having a partial vacuum, connected to a lower end of said vapor conduit below a lower extremity of said insulating wall, said vapor condenser generating fresh water; a fresh water conduit connected to a lower end of said condenser; and a vertical water replenishment conduit extending downwardly from said lower panel in said enclosure into said body of water internally of said insulating wall for conducting water heated by the heat of condensation in said condenser upwardly to the cavity of said enclosure; a fresh water heat exchanger positioned within said solar cell, said fresh water heat exchanger in communication with said fresh water conduit such that said fresh water from said fresh water conduit is heated as it passes through said fresh water heat exchanger; a power generator in communication with said fresh water heat exchanger, said power generator utilizing said heated fresh water for the generation of electricity.