Supplemental electrical generation apparatus and method

• US 8,981,709 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edee, LLC
• Original Assignee: Edee, LLC
• Inventors: Roberts, Claude Henry, Sowards, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, SUN J
• Application Number:
  US13/573,107
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy wind motors F03D
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects

Abstract

A power generation device with a charge controller connected with the power generation device where the charge controller is adjustable so as to regulate power from the power generation device to maximum amounts acceptable for charging a particular battery. At least one battery where the number of batteries is selected to match the maximum power out from the power generation device such that the batteries are charged in a minimum charge time. A DC power port connected with the at least one battery. An inverter connected with the at least one battery for converting DC to AC and providing AC power where the inverter is adjustable and an AC power is port connected with the inverter.

Claims

1. An improved supplemental electrical generation apparatus comprising:

a. a power generation device;

b. a charge controller connected with said power generation device wherein said charge controller is adjustable so as to regulate power from said power generation device to maximum amounts acceptable for charging a particular battery;

c. at least one battery with a particular battery strength and storage capacity and a particular charge time, said at least one battery connected with said charge controller wherein the storage, capacity of said at least one battery is used to adjust said charge controller such that said at least one battery is charged to a selected maximum battery strength and storage capacity and wherein a number of batteries is selected to match a maximum power out from said power generation device such that said batteries are charged in a minimum charge time;

d. a DC power port connected with said at least one battery;

e. an inverter connected with said at least one battery for converting DC to AC and providing AC power wherein said inverter is adjustable so as to monitor power status of said at least one battery and power demand and accepts power directly from said power generation device when said at least one battery is fully charged or accepts power directly from said at least one battery when said power generation device is not producing power and further, when no power is demanded, it directs power from said power generation device to said at least one battery when said at least one battery is below a preselected maximum power level; and

f. an AC power port connected with said inverter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said power generation device is selected from a group of devices consisting of:

solar, wind and geothermal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said charge controller monitors battery status including battery temperature and battery voltage and is adjustable to disconnect said power generation device when battery temperature and battery voltage are at maximum limits.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including at least one safety breaker connected between said power generation device and said charge controller.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a safety breaker between said power generation device and said charge controller;

between said charge controller and said at least one battery;

between said at least one battery and said inverter; and

between said inverter and said AC power port.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said AC power port includes a breaker box with outlets selected from a group consisting of:

110 V power outlet and 220 V power outlet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further consisting of an end user power demand calculation wherein said end user power demand calculation is used to determine required power generation device capacity and battery capacity.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said power generation device produces approximately 45 amps and the charge controller continuously sends 45 amps to said at least one battery wherein said at least one battery is conformed to accommodate up to 45 amps.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said at least one battery is a 12V battery.

10. An improved supplemental electrical generation apparatus comprising:

a. a solar power generation device conformed to produce approximately 45 amps;

b. a charge controller connected with said solar power generation device wherein said charge controller is adjustable so as to regulate power from said solar power generation device to continuously provide approximately 45 amps output from said charge controller;

c. a pair of 12 V batteries connected with said charge controller such that said pair of 12 V batteries are charged to a maximum battery strength and such that said batteries are charged in a minimum charge time;

d. a DC power port connected with said pair of 12 V batteries;

e. an inverter connected with said pair of 12 V batteries for converting DC to AC and providing AC power wherein said inverter is adjustable so as to monitor power status of said pair of 12 V batteries and power demand and accepts power directly from said solar power generation device when said pair of 12 V batteries are fully charged or accepts power directly from said pair of 12 V batteries when said solar power generation device is not producing power and further, when no power is demanded, it directs power from said solar power generation device to said pair of 12 V batteries when said pair of 12 V batteries are below a preselected maximum power level; and

f. an AC power port connected with said inverter and wherein in combination said apparatus produces approximately 500 Watt hours of power.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a number of solar power generators and 12 V batteries is doubled such that in combination said apparatus produces approximately 1000 Watt hours of power.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said charge controller monitors battery status including battery temperature and battery voltage and is adjustable to disconnect said solar power generation device when battery temperature and battery voltage are at maximum limits.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 further including at least one safety breaker connected between said solar power generation device and said charge controller.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 further including a safety breaker between said solar power generation device and said charge controller;

between said charge controller and said pair of 12 V batteries;

between said pair of 12 V batteries and said inverter; and

between said inverter and said AC power port.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said AC power port includes a breaker box with outlets selected from a group consisting of:

110 V power outlet and 220 V power outlet.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said solar power generation device is a solar panel that is adjustable to track the sun'"'"'s movement.

17. An improved supplemental electrical generation method comprising:

a. providing a power generation device;

a charge controller connected with said power generation device wherein said charge controller is adjustable so as to regulate power from said power generation device to maximum amounts acceptable for charging a particular battery;

at least one battery with a particular battery strength and storage capacity and a particular charge time, said at least one battery connected with said charge controller wherein the storage capacity of said at least one battery is used to adjust said charge controller such that said at least one battery is charged to a selected maximum battery strength and storage capacity and wherein a number of batteries is selected to match a maximum power out from said power generation device such that said batteries are charged in a minimum charge time;

a DC power port connected with said at least one battery;

an inverter connected with said at least one battery for converting DC to AC and providing AC power wherein said inverter is adjustable so as to monitor power status of said at least one battery and power demand and accepts power directly from said power generation device when said at least one battery is fully charged or accepts power directly from said at least one battery when said power generation device is not producing power and further, when no power is demanded, it directs power from said power generation device to said at least one battery when said at least one battery is below a preselected maximum power level; and

an AC power port connected with said inverter; and

b. activating said power generation device such that power is directed to said DC and AC power ports.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said power generation device is a solar panel that produces 45 amps and said at least one battery is a pair of 12 V batteries such that in combination one solar panel and two 12 V batteries produce approximately 500 Watt hours of power.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said AC power port includes a breaker box with outlets selected from a group consisting of:

110 V power outlet and 220 V power outlet.

20. The method of claim 17 further consisting of an end user power demand calculation wherein said end user power demand calculation is used to determine required power generation device capacity and battery capacity.