Description

Technical Field

The present invention finds application in the field of systems for the generation of energy from renewable sources and has particularly for object a movable photovoltaic apparatus.

State of the art

As known, the need for energy supply systems from renewable sources that replace the traditional systems from fossil sources is increasing, both for ecological reasons and for purely economic reasons because of the increasingly high costs of fossil fuels.

For these reasons, several solutions have been also implemented for using energy from renewable sources in domestic utilities or in small premises with commercial or industrial use.

In these areas, the most common apparatuses consist of fixed structures to be placed directly on the building to be served, or close to it.

For example, in the case of photovoltaic apparatuses, the most popular solutions involve the installation of one or more photovoltaic panels directly on the roof of the building or in structures integrated thereinto.

However, similar solutions have several limitations of use, as well as considerable costs both for their manufacture and installation and maintenance, which does not make them always installable and that limit anyway the cost effectiveness thereof.

Further solutions of movable photovoltaic apparatuses are also known which, however, have relatively high weights and size that limit their movements and the possible areas for installation.

These solutions also have low flexibility of use since they do not provide for energy storage systems, or have high base power.

Not least, the known apparatuses equipped with batteries have an inverter for DC/AC conversion of current which, however, don't work at a given level of discharge of the batteries, generally of 60%, not allowing the further use of the apparatus as long as the batteries are not sufficiently charged.

Scope of the invention

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks, realizing a movable photovoltaic apparatus which is particularly economical and effective.

A particular object is to provide a movable photovoltaic apparatus which presents high flexibility of use and increased autonomy, being adapted in particular to be also used with almost fully discharged batteries.

Still another object is to provide a movable photovoltaic apparatus which presents reduced overall dimensions and high ease of transport compared to apparatuses of the same power to be used in any premises, including domestic ones and with limited space, such as terraces, balconies and the like.

Still another object is to provide a movable photovoltaic apparatus with a modular structure and modular deliverable power to adapt to the specific user needs.

These objects, as well as others which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a movable photovoltaic apparatus that, according to claim 1, comprises a support cart, at least one photovoltaic panel mounted on said cart to rotate about an axis of rotation for the adjustment of its inclination, electrical power supply means comprising electric storage means for electrical connection of said at least one photovoltaic panel with one or more external utilities to be electrically powered and an inverter for the DC/AC conversion of the electrical current produced by said at least one panel and having at least one AC output of 220V for the supply of electric current.

The electric storage means comprise at least one DC output with predetermined voltage electrically connected to said at least one photovoltaic panel without the interposition of said inverter for drawing energy also with said storage means having a residual charge less than 20% of the maximum charging power for power supplying suitable further external electrical utilities with low voltage.

Thanks to this particular combination of features, the apparatus may supply power even when the inverter doesn't work due to the low charge level, generally less than 40%, of the electric storage means, since it will be possible to connect a suitable electrical utility working with continuous current directly to the DC output.

Suitably, the power supply means may also have a charge controller with a balance electronic system adapted to detect the level of charge of said storage means for the selective feeding of said inverter and/or of said electric storage means.

In this way, the power supply means may verify the load to the inverter to adjust the energy to be delivered respectively to the inverter and to the electric storage means, so as to allow the charging of the storage means also during the use and delivery of power from the AC output.

Advantageously, the electric power supply means may be housed in a transportable container provided with first quick connection terminals adapted to be coupled to second quick connection terminals complementarily shaped located on said cart and electrically connected to said at least one photovoltaic panel.

In this way it will be possible to remove the batteries from the cart in order to have the availability of electricity even away from the panels and particularly in condition of non-use thereof, for example during the night.

Preferably, the photovoltaic panel may be rotatable about a horizontal axis for adjusting the angle of inclination and may be brought in a vertical position, so as to minimize the overall plan dimensions of the apparatus which will coincide with those of the cart. Suitably, said panel and/or said cart may be provided with means for electrical connection of one or more additional photovoltaic panels to said power supply means for the modular configuration of the maximum output power according to the specific needs.

Advantageous forms of the invention are obtained according to the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent in light of a detailed description of some preferred but not limiting embodiments of a movable photovoltaic apparatus according to the invention, shown in way of non limiting example with the aid of the attached drawing tables wherein:

FIG. 1 is a scheme view of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus in a first working configuration;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 2 with the panel in horizontal position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus in a second working configuration without the electric power supply means;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus in a third working configuration without the electric power supply means;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the apparatus in a fourth working configuration without the power supply means;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 7, with the electric power supply means.

Best modes of carrying out the invention

With reference to the figures a movable photovoltaic apparatus is shown which is adapted to be used in any field but particularly suited to applications in civil field as a mobile photovoltaic island due to its relatively reduced dimensions and weight which simplify the transport and facilitate the positioning thereof in limited spaces.

Moreover, the relatively low powers that can be supplied help to reduce costs while making the apparatus suitable to satisfy the needs of medium-sized civil house.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a movable photovoltaic apparatus according to the present invention, generally indicated by 1, essentially comprising a support cart 2 of transportable type on which a photovoltaic panel 3 is mounted, electric power supply means 4 comprising electric storage means 5 for electrical connection of the photovoltaic panel 3 with one or more external utilities to be electrically powered and an inverter 6 for the DC/ AC conversion of the electric current produced by the panel 3 so as to make it usable by the most common equipment commonly present in a domestic premises.

To this end the inverter 6 is provided with a 220VAC output 7 for supplying electric current, provided with special connector 8, visible in Fig. 2, selected according to the standards adopted by the equipment to be powered.

Moreover, the electric storage means 5 comprise at least one DC output 9 with predetermined voltage electrically connected to the photovoltaic panel 3 without the interposition of the inverter 6 for drawing energy even when the electric storage means 5 have a residual charge less than 20% of the maximum charge, that are at a level in which the electric storage means 5 can no longer feed the inverter 6.

The DC output 9 will also suitably provided with a special connector 10, always visible in Fig. 2, for feeding appropriate further electrical external utilities with low voltage. In particular, the DC output 9 will be at 48V to feed, for example, LED lamps or other equipment operating at 48VDC, without particular limitations.

The electric storage means 5 will comprise preferably a pack of batteries 5' connected in series with each other, for example dry batteries each having a nominal capacity between lOAh and lOOAh, preferably close to 20Ah, and 12V voltage for a total output voltage of 48V.

The DC output DC will preferably be connected to the batteries 5' via a minimum voltage protection circuit, not shown.

The inverter 6 will have a power between 500W and 1000W, depending on the needs, and may be for example an inverter of the AJ series of Steca Elektronik GmbH.

The inverter 6 will be connected to the panel 3 and/or the electric storage means 5 to be powered either by the latter that directly from the panel 3. The electric power supply means 4 also include a charge controller 11 provided with an electronic balance system adapted to detect the level of charge of the electric storage means 5 for the selective feeding of the inverter 6 or of the battery pack 5', in function of the load connected to the AC output 7, switching ON/OFF the load in order to best use the batteries 5' and prolong their life.

In particular, the controller 11 will be programmed to direct more or less energy to the battery pack 5' when the load on the inverter 6 is lower than the maximum output power, in order to exploit the energy produced in excess of the momentary needs for charging the batteries 5' and allow at the same time the use of the apparatus.

The controller 11 may be of the type commonly available on the market, such as a solar charge controller TAROM of Steca Elektronik GmbH.

Fig. 2 shows a first configuration of the apparatus 1 comprising a support cart 2, preferably made of metal, for example aluminum, steel or other material of suitable strength, provided with wheels 12 preferably pivoting and braked for the comfortable and safe transportation of the cart 2.

Two panels 3, 3' are mounted on the carriage 2, a first panel 3 of which being directly fixed to the cart 2 by suitable guide means 13 which allow a total roto-translation movement to adjust the tilt angle and to optimize the position both with respect to the angle of incidence of sunlight that with respect to the configuration of the premises in which the apparatus 1 has to be located.

The guide means, with two pairs of sliding guides 14, 15, will allow the panel 3 also assume a fully horizontal position, shown in Fig. 3, which will be particularly compact and that facilitates the transport and the positioning of the apparatus 1 .

In turn the second panel 3' is hinged to a side of the first panel 3 to be closed thereon in way of a book and is supported by a pair of telescopic arms 16 adjustable in length as a function of the inclination of the first panel 3.

The electric power supply means 4 are housed within a transportable container 17, suitably isolated and protected, removably mounted on the cart 2 in order to be removed.

In this way, the supply means 4 may be disconnected from the photovoltaic panel 3 and transported to another place, to use the charge of the electric storage means 5 where necessary.

The container 17 will be suitably compact to allow the horizontal positioning of the panel 3. Suitably, the container 17 is provided with first quick connection terminals, not visible in the figures, adapted to be coupled to second quick connection terminals complementarily shaped placed on the cart 2 and electrically connected to the photovoltaic panel 3.

Fig. 4 shows a variant of the apparatus 1 wherein the cart 2 has plan dimensions reduced compared to the previous configuration, with a base frame 18 which defines the maximum overall dimensions in plan and from which two vertical arms 19 extend, the panel 3 being hinged to the arms 19 so as to rotate about an axis of rotation R substantially horizontal and parallel to its extension plane for possibly adjusting the angle of inclination a and bring it in vertical position .

The second quick connection terminals 20 are also visible From the same figure and are realized in a suitable seat 21 of the base frame 18 of the cart 2 adapted to house the container 17 of the electric power supply means 4.

The panel 3 is provided with an end edge having means for the removable fixing to an external structure. In particular, the panel 3 comprises two perforated flanges 22 for its fixing to a structure such as a railing of a balcony or terrace.

According to alternative variants, not shown, the fixing means can also be associated to the cart 2 and/or may be of a different type than the one showed, such as fixing members for tie-rods or similar.

Fig. 5 shows the same apparatus 1 according to a side view to show how, when the panel 3 is vertical, the apparatus 1 has considerably limited overall dimensions such as to allow the transport also in a common load-lift or elevator of the type usually present in civil buildings.

Fig. 6 shows a further variant of the apparatus 1 wherein two photovoltaic panels 3, 3' are provided in side by side relationship and connected with each other by respective electrical connection means, not illustrated, associated to the panels 3, 3' and/or to the cart 2 and are adapted to allow the connection of both panels to the power supply means 4 for the modular configuration of the maximum output power from the apparatus 1. The two panels 3, 3' may be mounted on two independent structures, for example two cart of the type described above, in order to be electrically connected and use the same power supply means 4.

Alternatively, as in the figures, the panels 3, 3' may be mutually hinged to allow the closure as a book, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, useful to have a smaller encumbrance in a condition of non-use. Also in this case a first panel 3 will be mounted on the cart and will be rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation R, while the second panel 3' is supported by a pair of telescopic arms 16 adjustable in length as a function of the inclination of the first panel 3.

From the above it appears evident that the invention achieves the intended purposes. The apparatus according to the invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations all falling within the inventive concept expressed in the accompanying claims. All the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements, and the materials may be different according to requirements, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Although the apparatus has been disclosed with particular reference to the attached figures, reference numbers used in the description and in the claims are used to improve the intelligence of the invention and do not constitute any limitation of the claimed scope.