Roof Based Energy Conversion System

• US 20090095339A1
• Filed: 10/08/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dragon Energy Pte., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Dragon Energy Pte., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nightingale, Christopher George Edward
• Application Number:
  US12/248,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20090095339A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 1/041 Greywater supply systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 2001/047 using rainwater
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/00 Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage ; Sky-lights ventilation tiles E04D1/30; ventilation slabs E04D3/40; internal channels E04F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/08 Down pipes; Special clamping means therefor clamping pipes in general F16B, F16L
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/17 Ventilation of roof coverings not otherwise provided for ventilation of rooms or spaces F24F
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/04 having stationary wind-guiding means, e.g. with shrouds or channels F03D9/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/007 the wind motor being combined with means for converting solar radiation into useful energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/008 the wind motor being combined with water energy converters, e.g. a water turbine
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/11 storing electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/34 on stationary objects or on stationary man-made structures
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 6/001 having photovoltaic cells
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/708 Photoelectric means, i.e. photovoltaic or solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/13 to collect or cause flow towards or away from turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/911 already existing for a prior purpose
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/67 in the form of roof constructions in the form of shingles or tiles F24S20/69
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/69 in the form of shingles or tiles
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/00 Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• 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 10/12 : Hybrid wind-PV energy systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 : specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/25 : Roof tile elements
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/36 : characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/108 : Rainwater harvesting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/60 : Planning or developing urban green infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 : Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 : Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 : Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 : Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 : Heat exchange systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/46 : Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 : Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 : PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 : Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 : Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A roof based energy conversion system for a building with a roof comprises a roof frame structure and a plurality of solar energy converting tile assemblies. The solar energy converting tile assemblies may comprise a selection of photovoltaic tile assemblies that convert solar energy into electrical energy and thermal tile assemblies that convert solar energy to thermal energy. Both tile assemblies have substantially the same exterior appearance so as to be visually indistinguishable when laid together on the same roof structure. The energy conversion system may also incorporate a hydroelectric system that is configured to convert kinetic energy from rain running off the roof structure to electrical energy and a wind energy conversion system that converts kinetic energy of moving air into electrical energy. An energy management system may be provided that receives electrical energy from the tiles, the hydroelectric system, and the wind energy conversion system. The management system incorporates batteries and includes a connection system to enable energy produced by the system to be transferred to a supply grid.

Claims

1. A roof based energy conversion system comprising:

a roof frame structure; and

a plurality of solar energy converting tiles, each of the solar energy converting tiles comprising a base tile that is fixed to at least a portion of the roof frame structure and one or more cover tiles each attached to a corresponding base tile, wherein each of the base tiles are configured to sealingly engage each other along adjacent edges to form a substantially waterproof cladding for the portion of the roof structure.

2. The energy conversion system according to claim 1, wherein each of the energy converting tiles comprises either (a) a plurality of photovoltaic tiles that convert solar energy to electrical energy;

or, (b) a plurality of thermal tiles that convert solar energy to thermal energy;

or, (c) a combination of at least one photovoltaic tile and at least one thermal tile.

3. The energy conversion system according to claim 2, wherein the roof frame structure comprises at least two sloping sides that converge toward each other in an upward direction.

4. The energy conversion system according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of solar energy converting tiles comprises one or more photovoltaic tiles and one or more thermal tiles, the tiles being arranged so that the photovoltaic tiles are fixed at higher locations on the portion of the roof structure than the thermal tiles.

5. The energy conversion system according to any one of claims 2-4, wherein cover tiles for both the photovoltaic tiles and the thermal tiles are formed so as to have respective exposed surfaces that are of substantially identical appearance.

6. The energy conversion system according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein a plurality of cover tiles are attached to each base tile and wherein at least two of the cover tiles overlap each other.

7. The energy conversion system according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of cover tiles are attached to each base tile and wherein at least two of the cover tiles overlap each other.

8. The energy conversion system according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein each of the base tiles are formed to provide thermal insulation to the roof frame structure.

9. The energy conversion system according to any one of claims 5, wherein each of the base tiles are formed to provide thermal insulation to the roof frame structure.

10. The energy conversion system according to any one of claims 6, wherein each of the base tiles are formed to provide thermal insulation to the roof frame structure.

11. The energy conversion system according to any one of claims 1-4, further comprising a hydroelectric system configured to convert kinetic energy from water flowing off the portion of the roof to electrical energy.

12. The energy conversion system according to claim 11, wherein the hydroelectric system comprises one or more gutters and downpipes;

and, one or more water turbines wherein the gutters and downpipes are arranged to collect rain flowing off the portion of the roof frame structure to produce a water flow that drives each water turbine.

13. The energy conversion system according to any one of claims 1-4, further comprising a wind energy conversion system having one or more wind turbines supported by the roof frame structure which convert kinetic energy of a moving air mass to electrical energy.

14. The energy conversion system according to claim 13, wherein the wind energy system further comprises a cover that overlies the one or more wind turbines to create, together with the roof frame structure, a wind tunnel that directs moving air to flow up the roof frame structure through the one or more wind turbines.

15. The energy conversion system according to claim 11, further comprising a wind energy conversion system having one or more wind turbines supported by the roof frame structure which convert kinetic energy of a moving air mass to electrical energy.

16. The energy conversion system according to claim 15, further comprising an energy management system which receives and manages the electrical energy from the solar energy converting tiles, hydroelectric system and the wind energy conversion system.

17. The energy conversion system according to claim 16, wherein the energy management system comprises a connection to an electricity supply grid and is configured to manage two way flow of electrical energy between the energy conversion system and the supply grid.

18. The energy conversion system according to claim 17, wherein the energy management system comprises an electricity storage apparatus, the energy management system being configured to provide electrical energy to the supply grid when the electricity storage apparatus is in the fully charged state, and connects the supply grid to the electricity storage apparatus when the electricity storage apparatus has a charge level below a threshold level.