Solar energy power supply system

• US 7,867,641 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chia-Tien Wu, Chia-Yun Wu, I-Long Wu
• Original Assignee: Chia-Tien Wu, Chia-Yun Wu, I-Long Wu
• Inventors: Wu, Chia-Yun, Wu, Chia-Tien, Wu, I-Long
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruddock; Ula C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ayad; Tamir
• Application Number:
  US11/652,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20070166573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 429/9, 429/22, 429/26, 136/252
• US Class Current: 429/9
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 14/005 Photoelectrochemical storage cells light sensitive devices H01G9/20, semiconductors sensitive to light H01L31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/00 Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/542 Dye sensitized solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A solar energy power supply system includes a solar battery, an electrolyte supply device, an electrolyte recycling device, a hydrogen recycling device, a fuel cell, a heating device and a power management device. Electric power generation is accomplished by first activating the electrolyte supply device to inject electrolyte into the solar battery. The electrolyte is a compound of water and a photo catalyst. The solar battery receives light or heat to generate electric power. Water vapor and hydrogen are generated and recycled through the electrolyte recycling device and the hydrogen recycling device. When the light or heat is not available the recycled hydrogen gas is delivered to the fuel cell to continuously generate the electric power or the heating device provides heat to the solar battery to continuously generate electric power. Electric current generated by the solar battery and fuel cell is controlled by the power management device to comply with electric power specification for final usage.

Claims

1. A solar energy power supply method, comprising the steps of:

providing a solar battery and an electrolyte supply device connected to the solar battery through a first tubing to provide an electrolyte to the solar battery, wherein the solar battery receives either light or heat to generate electric power and produce water vapor and hydrogen gas;

providing an electrolyte recycling device connected to the solar battery through a second tubing and a first recycling tubing, wherein the electrolyte recycling device includes a cooler which receives the water vapor from the solar battery through the second tubing, and the cooler cools the water vapor to become liquid water and sends the liquid water to the solar battery through the first recycling tubing so that the water vapor can be recycled and reused;

providing a hydrogen recycling device connected to the cooler through a third tubing which is connected with the second tubing, wherein the hydrogen recycling device includes a container, a second check valve and a filter, and the container stores the hydrogen gas produced by the solar battery through the second tubing, the hydrogen recycling device and the third tubing;

providing a fuel cell connected to the electrolyte recycling device through a second recycling tubing, which includes a third check valve, a first solenoid valve;

providing a heating device connected to the hydrogen recycling device and the fuel cell through a fourth tubing which includes an automatic igniter, a gas nozzle and a second solenoid valve, wherein the hydrogen gas stored in the hydrogen recycling device is sent into the gas nozzle through the second solenoid valve which is connected with the fourth tubing, and the automatic igniter burns the hydrogen gas coming from the gas nozzle to provide heat for the solar battery and the electrolyte supply device;

providing a power management device which includes a controller, a storage battery, a DC socket and an AC socket;

directing with the controller charging of the storage battery with electric current generated by the solar battery and the fuel cell through a circuit, the storage battery delivering the stored electric power through the circuit to the controller to supply AC and DC power to the AC socket and the DC socket, the controller controlling power ON/OFF of the first and second solenoid valves and the automatic igniter through three different circuits; and

wherein when the light or heat is not available the controller selectively delivering recycled hydrogen gas through the tubing to either the fuel cell or the heating device to produce heat to heat the solar battery to generate the electric power continuously, electric current generated by the solar battery and the fuel cell being controlled by the power management device to comply with electric power specification for final usage.

2. The solar energy power supply method of claim 1, wherein the solar battery includes at least:

a positive electrode substrate which is selectively a low potential conductor which is oxidation-resistant or a low potential conductor which is oxidation-resistant but activates or ionizes water;

a negative electrode substrate which is a high potential conductor;

a film which is porous and covers the negative electrode substrate;

an electrolyte which is a compound consisting of either water or a weak acid and a photo catalyst which activates or ionizes water upon receiving light or heat; and

an insulation shell which is a container made from a transparent and heat-resistant material to receive light and heat from multiple sides and covers the positive electrode substrate, the negative electrode substrate and the electrolyte and has at least one connection port;

wherein either the water or the weak acid in the solar battery generate ions by the photo catalyst that serve as electricity transfer media in the battery, to generate a potential difference between the positive electrode substrate and the negative electrode substrate to become a source of power supply.

3. The solar energy power supply method of claim 1, wherein the solar battery includes at least:

a positive electrode substrate which is selectively a low potential conductor with oxidation-resistant or a low potential conductor which is oxidation-resistant but activates or ionizes water;

a negative electrode substrate which is a high potential conductor;

a film which is porous and covers the negative electrode substrate; and

an electrolyte which is a compound consisting of either water or a weak acid and a photo catalyst which activates or ionizes water upon receiving heat;

wherein the positive electrode substrate serves as a shell to cover the negative electrode substrate and the electrolyte and has at least one connection port, and the positive electrode substrate and the negative electrode substrate are interposed by a connecting surface which has an insulation member disposed thereon to prevent short circuit;

wherein either the water or the weak acid in the solar battery generate ions by the photo catalyst that serve as electricity transfer media in the battery, to generate a potential difference between the positive electrode substrate and the negative electrode substrate to become a source of power supply.

4. The solar energy power supply method of claim 2, wherein the positive electrode substrate is a compound formed by mixing particles and fibers of a conductor to a desired ratio which can emit electromagnetic waves with one material selected from the group consisting of at least infrared nano ceramics, nano anion material, nano carbon, nano carbon tubes, nano silver ions, nano gold ions and active carbon and a compound thereof.

5. The solar energy power supply method of claim 2, wherein the positive electrode substrate is made from either active carbon or active carbon fibers, the negative electrode substrate being selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zinc, alloys of aluminum and zinc, alloys of aluminum and zinc and lithium, alloys of aluminum and zinc and magnesium, alloys of aluminum and zinc and lithium and magnesium, alloys of aluminum and lithium, alloys of aluminum and magnesium, alloys of aluminum and lithium and magnesium, alloys of zinc and lithium, alloys of zinc and magnesium, or alloys of zinc and lithium and magnesium.

6. The solar energy power supply method of claim 2, wherein the film is an osmotic layer.

7. The solar energy power supply method of claim 2, wherein the film is a proton exchange membrane.

8. The solar energy power supply method of claim 2, wherein the photo catalyst is selected from the group consisting of at least TiO₂, ZnO, SnO₂, ZrO₂, CdS and ZnS that are formed at a nanometer scale.

9. The solar energy power supply method of claim 2, wherein the solar battery further includes a non-photo catalyst which activates or ionizes water in either the no light or heat condition.

10. The solar energy power supply method of claim 9, wherein the non-photo catalyst is selected from the group consisting of at least infrared nano ceramics, nano anion material, nano carbon, nano carbon tubes, nano silver ions, nano gold ions, active carbon and an acid root.

11. The solar energy power supply method of claim 2, wherein the solar battery further has a magnetic field to activate or ionize water.

12. The solar energy power supply method of claim 2, wherein the solar battery further has an absorbent located between the positive electrode substrate and the film.

13. The solar energy power supply method of claim 3, wherein the solar battery further has an absorbent located between the positive electrode substrate and the film.

14. The solar energy power supply method of claim 2, wherein the film is made from either polymers or a conversion coating.

15. The solar energy power supply method of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte supply device includes a cylinder, a piston, a actuator, an injection orifice and a first check valve;

the actuator being selected from either a shape memory alloy or a bimetal and having an expandable shape under the heat;

the actuator being activated by the heat to inject the electrolyte into the solar battery from the electrolyte supply device through the tubing.

16. The solar energy power supply method of claim 3, wherein the solar battery further includes a conductive shell to cover the positive electrode substrate.

17. The solar energy power supply method of claim 2, wherein the film further includes an additive being selected from the group consisting of a nano scale photo catalyst and a nano scale non-photo catalyst to enhance water activating or ionizing efficiency.