Autonomous, modular power generation, storage and distribution apparatus, system and method thereof

• US 10,535,904 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2018
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gridkicker, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gridkicker, LLC
• Inventors: Retti, Kahrl L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gardner, Shannon M
• Application Number:
  US15/883,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20180301766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/10 including a supplementary source of electric power, e.g. hybrid diesel-PV energy systems combinations with gas-turbine plants F02C6/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

An autonomous, modular energy generation, storage and transmission apparatus, system, and method is provided. An apparatus is tube shaped and includes solar and thermionic energy conversion layers, and a battery module. A system of modular apparatuses may be connected together to form a transmission network. Such devices are particularly suited for outdoor application on highway jersey walls, and for indoor application on office cubicle walls. A method of charging battery modules in the apparatus is provided, along with a method of distributing the same in commerce.

Claims

1. A system for generating electrical energy from photonic and thermal energy, and storing and distributing the electrical energy, the system comprising:

an energy collection module comprising;

a substrate;

a photovoltaic layer having a curved shape for converting photonic energy into electrical energy;

a thermionic layer comprising a thermionic material for converting thermal energy into electrical energy, wherein the thermionic layer comprises a dielectric layer formed between a first conductor layer and a second conductor layer, and wherein said dielectric, first conductor and second conductor layers form a capacitor;

a plurality of battery banks for storing said converted electrical energy, wherein each battery bank is operable in one of three modes, the three modes comprising a charging mode, a discharging mode, and an idle mode;

wherein one of the photovoltaic layer, the thermionic layer and the plurality of battery banks are formed on the substrate, and wherein the photovoltaic layer is disposed outside the thermionic layer; and

a battery management system configured for managing charging and discharging said plurality of battery banks, the battery management system comprising;

a smart battery charger for charging a connected one of the battery banks;

a smart battery selector for selectively connecting each of said battery banks to a load or to said smart battery charger, or for disconnecting said battery banks from said load and said smart battery charger;

a microcontroller for receiving data and status messages from said battery banks, said smart battery charger and said smart battery selector, and to issue commands to said smart battery selector for configuring interconnections among said battery banks, said load and said smart battery charger; and

a communication bus connected to said battery banks, said smart battery charger, said smart battery selector and said microcontroller exchanging said data and status messages, and said commands.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the substrate is tube-shaped and comprises a hollow portion.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an ultraviolet (UV) protective outer shell disposed outside of the photovoltaic layer.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the UV protective outer shell is made of stable polycarbonate plastic.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductor layers comprise deposited thin-film graphite.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric layer comprises an active carbon.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermionic material is deposited adjacent to one of the first and the second conductor layers.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermionic material comprises strontium titanate.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic layer comprises thin-film amorphous silicon photovoltaic cells.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery banks further comprise a plurality of thin-film rechargeable lithium ion batteries.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one distribution conductor for electrically connecting the energy collection module to an electrical load.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a base for attaching said energy collection module to a host object.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the base enables the energy collection module to be securely attached to an infrastructure.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said energy collection module includes a base for mounting the energy collection module on a mounting clip having at least one embedded distribution conductor and at least one slot providing access to said at least one distribution conductor, said base comprising at least one downwardly protruding conductor adapted to contact said distribution conductor when said apparatus is mounted on said mounting clip.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said mounting clip is securely attached to a highway infrastructure.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said infrastructure is a jersey wall.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said mounting clip is disposed lengthwise along said highway infrastructure, and said slot is disposed lengthwise along said mounting clip.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said mounting clip comprises a pair of embedded distribution conductors and a corresponding pair of slots disposed parallel to one another along the length of the mounting clip, each slot providing access to the corresponding embedded distribution conductor.

19. The system of claim 2, wherein the battery banks further comprise a removable battery pack inserted into the hollow portion of the substrate.