SOLAR PLATFORM

• US 20090314926A1
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA Recherche et Développement
• Original Assignee: CSEM Centre Suisse D'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA
• Inventors: Allani, Yassine, Hinderling, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/375,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20090314926A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/203.400
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2035/4453 for converting solar energy into electric energy
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/44 Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices construction methods for floating offshore platforms B63B75/00
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 6/001 having photovoltaic cells
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 6/003 having a Rankine cycle F03G6/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/93 on a structure floating on a liquid surface
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/931 which is a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/20 Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/70 Waterborne solar heat collector modules for working fluids forming pools or ponds F24S10/10
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/70 with reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/40 for rotary movement
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/422 Vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/054 Optical elements directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
• 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

Abstract

A floating solar platform includes a bridge (10, 5, 21) connected to buoyancy elements (11), elements (14, 23) for collecting received solar energy, the elements being associated with the bridge and placed thereon, elements (16, 24) for converting this energy, elements (19) for storing the product of this conversion, and first propulsion elements (12) for moving the platform to sites where it can benefit from optimum sunshine. The platform further includes elements for controlling its paths, which elements act on the propulsion elements and include a navigation system associated with an algorithm for predictively optimizing the position in terms of latitude and longitude, taking into account the local meteorological conditions or particular logistic data for the optimum choice of its location.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A floating solar platform comprising a bridge linked to buoyancy elements, collector means associated with said bridge to collect received solar energy, and arranged on the latter, means for converting this energy, means for storing the product of this conversion and first propelling means for moving the platform to locations where it may benefit from optimum sunlight, means to control its travel path which act on said propelling means and comprise a navigation system associated with a predictive algorithm for optimization of latitude and longitude positioning, having regard to local weather conditions or to particular logistic data for optimum choice of location, wherein said algorithm further enables adjustment of the platform'"'"'s position in relation to the day'"'"'s date at the location in which it lies.

15. The platform of claim 14, wherein said collector means are arranged on the bridge and wherein said platform also comprises second propelling means for causing it to undergo gyroscopic rotation about a central vertical axis to maximize received sunlight.

16. The platform of claim 14, which is associated with floating mini-platforms, wherein said collector means are arranged thereupon and wherein said mini-platforms comprise second propelling means for causing them to undergo gyroscopic rotation about a central vertical axis to maximize received sunlight.

17. The platform of claim 15, wherein said propelling means comprise hydro-propellers controlled by a GPS system.

18. The platform of claim 16, wherein said propelling means comprise hydro-propellers controlled by a GPS system.

19. The platform according to claim 14, wherein said collector means comprise photovoltaic cells.

20. The platform according to claim 15, wherein said collector means comprise photovoltaic cells.

21. The platform according to claim 16, wherein said collector means comprise photovoltaic cells.

22. The platform according to claim 17, wherein said collector means comprise photovoltaic cells.

23. The platform according to claim 18, wherein said collector means comprise photovoltaic cells.

24. The platform according to claim 14, wherein said collector means comprise concentrators having a line focus.

25. The platform of claim 24, wherein said concentrators consist of flat plates of various widths and different tilt angles, which are arranged parallel and symmetrically relative to a horizontal axis (XX).

26. The platform of claim 25, wherein said concentrators are fixed.

27. The platform of claim 25, wherein said concentrators may pivot so as to receive maximum sunlight whilst avoiding any shadow effect.

28. The platform of claim 24, wherein said conversion means consist of a boiler tube arranged at the spot focus of said concentrators.

29. The platform of claim 25, wherein said conversion means consist of a boiler tube arranged at the spot focus of said concentrators.

30. The platform of claim 26, wherein said conversion means consist of a boiler tube arranged at the spot focus of said concentrators.

31. The platform of claim 27, wherein said conversion means consist of a boiler tube arranged at the spot focus of said concentrators.

32. The platform according to claim 14, wherein said collector means comprise concentrators having a point focus.

33. The platform according to claim 32, wherein said conversion means consist of a boiler arranged at the spot focus of said concentrators.

34. The platform according to claim 14, wherein said conversion means are adapted for performing at least one of the following functions:

direct production of electricity through use of the thermophotovoltaic effect (TPV), the tube being coated with a photovoltaic layer;

combined direct production of electricity (TPV) and steam (Direct Steam Generation—

DSG) for onboard thermodynamic cycles;

combined direct production of electricity (TPV) and hot air for onboard thermodynamic cycles;

direct steam generation (DSG);

direct production of hot air for onboard dynamic cycles; and

combined direct production of steam (DSG) and hot air at high temperature.

35. The platform according to claim 24, wherein conversion means are adapted for performing at least one of the following functions:

direct production of electricity through use of the thermophotovoltaic effect (TPV), the tube being coated with a photovoltaic layer;

combined direct production of electricity (TPV) and steam (Direct Steam Generation—

DSG) for onboard thermodynamic cycles;

combined direct production of electricity (TPV) and hot air for onboard thermodynamic cycles;

direct steam generation (DSG);

direct production of hot air for onboard dynamic cycles; and

combined direct production of steam (DSG) and hot air at high temperature.

36. The platform according to claim 32, wherein said conversion means are adapted for performing at least one of the following functions:

direct production of electricity through use of the thermophotovoltaic effect (TPV), the tube being coated with a photovoltaic layer;

combined direct production of electricity (TPV) and steam (Direct Steam Generation—

DSG) for onboard thermodynamic cycles;

combined direct production of electricity (TPV) and hot air for onboard thermodynamic cycles;

direct steam generation (DSG);

direct production of hot air for onboard dynamic cycles; and

combined direct production of steam (DSG) and hot air at high temperature.