Portable Solar Power Generator and Water Heating System

• US 20120152319A1
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Bailey, Lee
• Application Number:
  US12/969,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20120152319A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/248
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 17/0068 with accumulation of the heated water
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1057 the system uses solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 2240/09 with photovoltaic cells
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/50 Rollable or foldable solar heat collector modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/55 made of flexible materials
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2020/17 Arrangements of solar thermal modules combined with solar PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 60/30 storing heat in liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/44 Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H01L31/0525
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/60 Thermal-PV hybrids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

Methods and systems provide for the creation of power and heated water utilizing a solar powered portable structure. According to embodiments described herein, solar radiation is used to heat a power generating bladder containing a heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid within the power generating bladder is circulated through a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to water stored in one or more water storage tanks, thereby heating the water. Solar radiation is also used to generate power by converting the solar radiation received by the power generating bladder to power using a photovoltaic material. The power may be provided for use and used to operate various components of the system. The power may also be stored in a battery.

Claims

1. A method for heating water and generating power, the method comprising:

deploying a photovoltaic (PV) bladder from a stowed configuration, the PV bladder comprising a heat transmission bladder and a PV backing;

routing a heat transfer fluid through the heat transmission bladder;

receiving solar radiation at the PV bladder;

routing the heat transfer fluid from the heat transmission bladder to a heat exchanger;

transferring heat from the heat transfer fluid via the heat exchanger to water stored within one or more water storage tanks;

creating heated water in the one or more water storage tanks; and

providing the heated water for use.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

converting the solar radiation received at the PV backing to power; and

providing the power for use.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing the converted power in a direct current (DC) power unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat transmission bladder is a translucent bladder.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising using the power to operate one or more heating elements for heating the water stored within the one or more water storage tanks.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising using the power to operate one or more pumps for circulating the heat transfer fluid between the heat transmission bladder and the heat exchanger.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more pumps provide water pressure for extracting the heated water from the one or more water storage tanks.

8. A solar power and water generation system, comprising:

a PV bladder comprising;

a heat transmission bladder configured to absorb solar radiation through a heat transfer fluid filling the heat transmission bladder;

a PV back configured to convert solar radiation absorbed through the PV backing into power;

one or more foldout PV collectors to convert solar radiation into power;

a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to water stored in one or more water storage tanks; and

a DC power unit for storing power converted by the PV bladder and the PV backing.

9. The power and water generation system of claim 8, further comprising a PV panel to convert solar radiation into power.

10. The power and water generation system of claim 8, further comprising one or more pumps to circulate the heat transfer fluid between the heat transmission bladder and the heat exchanger.

11. The power and water generation system of claim 10, wherein the one or more pumps provide pressure for extracting heated water from the one or more water storage tanks.

12. The power and water generation system of claim 8, wherein the heat transmission bladder is comprised of a fluoride polymer.

13. The power and water generation system of claim 12, wherein the fluoride polymer is ethylene tetrafluoroethylene.

14. The power and water generation system of claim 12, wherein the fluoride polymer transmits greater than 50% of the visible spectrum through the fluoride polymer.

15. The power and water generation system of claim 8, wherein the PV backing is comprised of a thin film photovoltaic material.

16. The power and water generation system of claim 15, wherein the thin film photovoltaic material is at least one of copper indium gallium selenide material, tandum junction amorphous silicon material, or cadmium telluride material.

17. The power and water generation system of claim 8, wherein the power and water generation system is portable.

18. The power and water generation system of claim 8, further comprising one or more heating elements to heat the water stored in the one or more water storage tanks.

19. The power and water generation system of claim 8, wherein the heat exchanger is a flat plate heat exchanger.

20. A power generation system, comprising:

a PV collector to convert solar radiation into power;

one or more foldout PV collectors to convert solar radiation into power;

a PV panel to convert solar radiation into power;

one or more batteries for storing power converted by the PV collector, the one or more foldout PV collectors and the PV panel; and

a power outlet to provide power for use.