FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical sector of light towers. In particular, the invention relates to a wind generating kit of electrical energy and LED illumination for light towers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

As is known, light towers are those vertical column structures, on average about 25 metres high from ground level which bear at the top thereof discharge or gas lamps.

Light towers are widely used in many contexts, and in fact are usefully predisposed to illuminate airports, motorways, railways and so on.

However, the above-described light towers are heavy energy users, due to the use of high-consumption lamps; costs are therefore high. Further, environmental issues are ever-more at the forefront, and the prior art solutions mentioned above do not lead to a reduction in climate-hostile and/or polluting emissions; nor to they facilitate the use of renewable energy. This means that the known solutions certainly do not contribute to the respect of the national and international targets in the environmental field. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks.

In particular, the invention relates to a wind generating kit of electrical energy and LED illumination for light towers according to claim 1. The kit of the present invention advantageously enables significantly reducing the energy consumption of the prior art connected with the use of light towers, as well as the costs connected thereto. Further, the kit of the invention enables reducing climate-hostile and/or polluting emissions with respect to the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages of the invention will be described in the following description, with the aid of the tables of drawings, in which:

- figure 1 is a front view of a generating kit of electrical energy and lighting of the invention, in use on a light tower;

- figure 2 is a larger-scale perspective view of a generating kit of electrical energy and lighting of figure 1 ;

- figure 3 is a larger-scale perspective view of a vertical-axis wind turbine of the kit for generating electrical energy and lighting according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the accompanying figures, the invention relates to a generating kit (1) of electrical energy and lighting for light towers (T), applicable to a light tower already in existence or a new light tower. In particular, light towers are those vertical structures widely used for illuminating various locations, such as airports, motorways, railways etc.

The kit (1) comprises a vertical-axis wind turbine (5), fixable to a top of a light tower (2), so that the axis thereof is aligned to an axis of the light tower (T) and positioned above the light-holder structure so as not to modify or limit any lowering of the structure, or its repositioning at a higher level.

The kit (1) further comprises a lighting group (2) comprising: a support structure (3) fixable to the top of a light tower (T) below the vertical-axis wind turbine (5); and a plurality of LEDs (4), borne by the support structure (3). The LEDs (4) are replacement LED lamps (4).

On the one hand, the kit (1) of the invention is advantageously able, without modifying and altering the structural and static characteristics of the light tower, to produce electrical energy from renewable sources, by means of a wind energy generator vertical thereto (5) (differently to the known solutions). On the other hand, the kit (1) of the invention reduces consumption of the energy necessary for lighting and the costs correlated to this operation, with the use of the plurality of LEDs (4). Further, with the use of LEDs the climate- hostile and/or polluting emissions typical of the known systems are also clearly reduced (these include the use of halogen lamps).

In a preferred embodiment, the vertical-axis wind turbine (5) comprises a plurality of blades (50) having a vertical axis, which axis is parallel to the axis of the generator and the light tower (T), once in use (see figures 2 and 3). In the preferred embodiment, the vertical-axis wind turbine (5) comprises a permanent magnet generator, for conversion of the kinetic energy (i.e. the wind energy) into electrical energy (which is directly introduced to the grid).

For example, the vertical-axis wind turbine (5) has a power of about 4kW.

In the appended figures, the support structure (3) of the lighting group (2) comprises an element having a circular shape (30) (i.e. annular) to which are fixed a plurality of arms (31) (for example 8 or 12); in this variant, the plurality of LEDs (4) (for example 8 or 12) is borne by the arms (31) (see figure 2).

For example, the lighting group (2) and/or the vertical-axis wind turbine (5) can be made of light but resistant materials. The lighting group (2) is preferably vertically mobile along an axis coinciding with the axis of the light tower (T), without precluding the operativity of the vertical-axis wind turbine (5). This peculiarity is particularly advantageous for example in cases of maintenance interventions on the lighting group (2).

The lighting group (2) preferably further comprises an electronic circuit for controlling the heat and illuminating efficiency of the LEDs (4).

The advantage of including this circuit, the functioning of which will be better detailed in the following, can be appreciated in terms of the following considerations. In general, in relation to LEDs, cooling by conduction or convection is necessary. If this is not provided, an increase in the temperature of the LEDs is generated, able to displace the relative wave length of the emission and making it possible for the white lights of the LEDs to acquire a bluish hue.

Further, if a LED is not adequately cooled, it loses efficiency and, consequently, the relative luminous flow diminishes. Further, a LED junction (4) can become damaged, leading to the breakage of the whole element, which has to be periodically replaced (negatively impacting on costs). Other types of damage can relate to the internal disbonding of the weld points, damaging the epoxy resin, as well causing a yellowing of the lenses. With the circuit that is a part of the disclosed kit (1 ) enabling electronic management of the problem, it is possible to obtain a reduction of the current in a case where the temperature of the LED (4) increases by too much. This enables , limiting the dissipation of the current internally of the diode and maintaining the relative temperature below a maximum predetermined level. For example, the electronic circuit is of the Thermoled type, and able to act between the supply and the LED (4): in particular the circuit is able to intervene on the voltage-current thermocouple. In detail, this circuit is able to intervene so that a constant voltage is supplied, as well as a current having an intensity, frequency and duration such as to determine an optimal cooling of the LEDs (4). The current will therefore be modulated so as to have peaks able to increase the light emission and at the same time reduce the cooling of the LEDs (4) (and will therefore not be constant).

For example, the kit (1 ) can further comprise control means of the electrical parameters and the electrical energy consumption (for example on the three- phase, three-phase with neutral, single-phase with neutral lines).

For example, the control means of the electrical parameters and the electrical energy consumption comprise a traditional current transformer (TA) or at least a Rogowski type sensor, for measuring the current.

In particular, the measurements can take place contemporaneously on more than one line (three-phase or single-phase), and the measured values can be read locally (for example on displays included with the kit (1)) or remotely (for example via a GPRS modem).

For example, these means enable carrying out, for each phase and for the neutral, the following measurements: · rms voltage;

• rms current;

• total active energy;

• total reactive energy;

• total reactive energy; · total apparent energy;

• peak current;

• peak voltage;

• instantaneous current;

• instantaneous voltage; · instantaneous active power;

• instantaneous reactive power;

• apparent instantaneous power;

• power factor;

• frequency; · harmonic rms voltage;

• harmonic rms current;

• harmonic active power;

• reactive power of the harmonics; • apparent power of the harmonics;

• power factor of the harmonics;

• voltage harmonic distortion of a generic harmonic with respect to the fundamental; · current harmonic distortion of a generic harmonic with respect to the fundamental;

• voltage sag detection;

• overvoltage detection;

The kit (1) can optionally comprise a plurality of relay outputs that are completely manageable remotely: in this way a system user can remotely switch on and/or off any electrical loads located in proximity of the system.

The kit (1) can optionally comprise a plurality of current inputs: using these, a user can remotely read the voltage values coming from external systems such as for example the sensors. The kit (1 ) of the above-described embodiment advantageously enables complete control as well as remote management of energy. In fact the kit (1) implemented as described not only provides a measurement of the electrical parameters but also enables the user to act directly on the plant so as to maximise energy efficiency. The kit (1) can further comprise interfaces for dialog and communication between "intelligent" electronic devices. In particular it will be possible to send the measured and detected magnitudes (e.g. currents, voltages, status of switches, etc.) to the remote system (e.g. a computer where the data acquiring software or plant supervision programs are installed) which will consequently control, for example, the switching-on and/or switching-off of the switches.

In this way, an operator working from a single station can monitor the status of the whole plant and perform the proper operations for guaranteeing efficiency and correct functioning. For example, the transmission of the data can be done using a wireless system.

For example, the kit (1 ) can comprise optical means (for example television cameras) having infrared visuals for night-time video-surveillance, distributed so as to control the whole surrounding area, enabling detection of nocturnal movements and/or any sudden malfunctioning of the apparatus that might give rise to anomalous overheating (and therefore require a timely intervention).

The kit (1) can further comprise sound diffusing systems for alarms and for transmitting messages and information for the users. For example, the kit (1 ) can further comprise monitoring means for monitoring environmental parameters.

These means can be for example predisposed for detecting pollutants released into the atmosphere (for example from production facilities or other sources present in the area). These means can comprise systems equipped with laser spectrophotometry which continuously dialogue with one another and which detect the macro- pollutants suspended in the air between the light towers. For example a continuous tracking measurement can be made of the concentrations of atmospheric pollutants such as NOx, SOx, CO and dusts. The invention further relates to a light tower (T) comprising a kit (1 ) for lighting and generating electrical energy as described above (see figure 1).

As already mentioned, a light tower of known type can be easily modified with a kit (1) as in the present invention (replacing the halogen lamps of the prior art); this is a practical way to reduce costs and significantly improve the environmental impact of the light towers.