Geo-cooled photovoltaic power converter

• US 8,648,249 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2012
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Renewable Power Conversion, Inc.
• Inventors: West, Richard Travis
• Primary Examiner(s): CIRIC, LJILJANA V
• Application Number:
  US13/570,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20140041709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 165/201, 165/4, 165/45, 165/104.11, 165/104.14, 165/104.19, 165/104.21, 165/104.26, 165/104.27, 165/104.33, 165/170, 136/205, 136/210, 136/246, 136/259
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/10 with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/30 using underground reservoirs for accumulating working fluids or intermediate fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/0052 using the ground body or aquifers as heat storage medium
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0521 using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/10 Geothermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A geo-cooled photovoltaic power conversion apparatus including a cooling system having liquid-to-earth sub-grade heat exchanger, multiple cooling loops, and a coolant reservoir which provides thermal storage for the cooling system.

Claims

1. A geo-cooled solar photovoltaic power conversion apparatus comprising:

a photovoltaic power converter including one or more heat producing components;

a power converter heat exchanger;

a sub-grade heat exchanger thermally coupled to the earth;

a liquid coolant reservoir including a tank, a first reservoir heat exchanger interior to the tank, and a second reservoir heat exchanger interior to the tank, wherein the first reservoir heat exchanger and the second reservoir heat exchanger are thermally coupled to each other via a liquid interior to the tank;

a first coolant loop including a first liquid coolant and operably connecting the power converter heat exchanger, the first reservoir heat exchanger, and a first coolant pump, wherein the first coolant pump is operable to circulate the first liquid coolant through the power converter heat exchanger and through the first reservoir heat exchanger; and

, a second coolant loop including a second liquid coolant and operably connecting the sub-grade heat exchanger, the second reservoir heat exchanger, and a second coolant pump, wherein the second coolant pump is operable to circulate the second liquid coolant through the second reservoir heat exchanger and through the sub-grade heat exchanger.

2. The geo-cooled solar photovoltaic power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power converter heat exchanger comprises a chill plate such that said one or more heat producing components are thermally coupled to the chill plate and such that the chill plate in turn comprises a means for channeling and thermally coupling said first liquid coolant through and to the chill plate, respectively.

3. The geo-cooled solar photovoltaic power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third reservoir heat exchanger within the coolant reservoir tank, wherein the liquid interior to the tank thermally couples the third reservoir heat exchange to each of the first reservoir heat exchanger and the second reservoir heat exchanger within the liquid coolant reservoir tank; and

, a third coolant loop, the third coolant loop including a third liquid coolant and operably connecting the third reservoir heat exchanger, a power converter liquid-to-air heat exchanger, and a third coolant pump, wherein the third coolant pump is operable to circulate the third liquid coolant through the third reservoir heat exchanger, a power converter liquid-to-air heat exchanger and a means for thermally coupling air between the power converter liquid-to-air heat exchanger and said one or more heat producing components.

4. The geo-cooled solar photovoltaic power conversion apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising:

a power converter enclosure;

a fan;

an intake port;

an exhaust port; and

, a means for enabling the fan to direct ambient air, external to the power converter enclosure, through the intake port, through the power converter liquid-to-air heat exchanger, through the power converter enclosure, across heat producing components and through the exhaust port to the exterior of the enclosure.

5. The geo-cooled solar photovoltaic power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power converter heat exchanger in turn comprises a chill plate and a liquid-to-air heat exchanger, wherein at least one of said one or more heat producing components is thermally coupled to the chill plate, and wherein the chill plate in turn comprises a means for channeling and thermally coupling said first liquid coolant through and to the chill plate, respectively, wherein at least one of said one or more heat producing components is thermally coupled via air to the power converter liquid-to-air heat exchanger, and, wherein said first coolant loop also provides a path for the first liquid coolant through the liquid-to-air heat exchanger.

6. The geo-cooled solar photovoltaic power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sub-grade heat exchanger comprises pipes or conduits that are buried in essentially the same trenches as electrical wiring associated with the photovoltaic power conversion system.

7. The geo-cooled solar photovoltaic power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sub-grade heat exchanger comprises metallic pipes and a means for coupling said metallic pipes to a photovoltaic electrical ground grid as an integral portion of the photovoltaic electrical ground grid.

8. The geo-cooled solar photovoltaic power conversion apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a means for continuously circulating the first liquid coolant and/or the second liquid coolant so as to warm the photovoltaic power converter and prevent water condensation.

9. The geo-cooled solar photovoltaic power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for circulating said liquid in said coolant reservoir tank.

10. The geo-cooled solar photovoltaic power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one or more heat producing components comprise at least one of semiconductor devices, water-cooled magnetic components, air-cooled magnetic components, water-cooled capacitors or air-cooled capacitors.

11. The geo-cooled solar photovoltaic power conversion apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a means for controlling said first coolant pump and/or said second coolant pump as a function of at least one of the temperature of said first coolant, the temperature of the second coolant, the ambient air temperature, the photovoltaic power converter temperature, the temperature of at least one of the one or more heat producing components, and, the temperature of the earth.

12. The geo-cooled solar photovoltaic power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said liquid coolant reservoir comprises a means for providing enough thermal capacity to absorb the heat from said one or more heat producing components during daylight hours when the photovoltaic power converter is converting solar power.