Solar Energy Storage And Generation System

A solar energy storage and generation system includes a housing mounted on a base, a solar collector installed inside the housing, at least one lens installed on the upper surface of the housing, and multiple liquid-level counterbalance devices installed separately at different corner positions inside the housing. The base includes a multi-axis adjustment device positioned corresponding to the center of gravity of the counterweights in the housing. By installing the liquid-level counterbalance devices inside the housing and the multi-axis adjustment device, the upper surface of the housing can be adjusted to face the direction of the sun, thereby achieving a sun-tracking effect.

This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202111197780.X, entitled “Solar Energy Storage and Generation System”, filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on Oct. 14, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to solar thermal power generation, particularly a concentrated solar energy storage and power generation system that can improve the utilization rate of sunlight and achieve miniaturization.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) has been in development for decades, yet widespread adoption remains elusive. One contributing factor is the relatively low utilization rate of solar energy collection and conversion. In addition to dispersion and losses between the reflector and receiver, energy is lost through reflection of the light energy received during conversion or saturation, while the receiver may also suffer significant convective heat loss when exposed to the atmosphere. In addition, the manufacturing complexities and costs associated with large-scale, high-temperature power generation units can limit operating temperatures and notably impact conversion efficiency. Meanwhile, installation requires a significant amount of space, and in the event of a fire, immediate shutdown and extinguishing of solar power is not feasible, making it impractical for urban environments. This also increases the cost of power transmission and poses a risk to birds and the environment due to high temperature light emissions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based on the aforementioned shortcomings, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a solar energy storage and generation system, particularly a concentrated solar energy storage and power generation system, which can improve the utilization rate of sunlight and achieve miniaturization.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the solar energy storage and generation system provided by the present invention comprises a housing mounted on a base, a solar collector installed inside the housing, and at least one lens installed on the upper surface of the housing. The housing is a hollow body having multiple liquid-level counterbalance devices separately installed at different corner positions inside the housing.

Preferably, the system further comprises at least one light path mechanism correspondingly disposed between the at least one lens and the solar collector for collecting the light incident on the at least one lens. The light path mechanism may be a light guide mirror assembly or a light guide tube assembly.

Preferably, the system comprises a multi-axis adjustment device mounted on the base and corresponding to the center of gravity of the housing.

Preferably, the interior of the housing is a vacuum chamber.

Preferably, a thermal energy storage tank is installed inside the housing and is connected to a thermal conduction device of the solar collector. The thermal energy storage tank has an outlet pipe and an inlet pipe penetrating through a side surface of the housing.

Preferably, the liquid-level counterbalance device has a liquid-level adjustment controller for introducing liquid from an external water source into the liquid-level counterbalance device or discharging liquid from the liquid-level counterbalance device into a liquid storage tank.

Preferably, the system comprises a retractable shade installed on the housing for covering the upper surface of the housing, and a cleaning device is installed between the retractable shade and the housing.

Preferably, the solar collector comprises an absorber which is a hollow chamber.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In order to clearly explain the specific embodiments, structures, and effects achieved by the present invention, the following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings:

Referring toFIGS.1to4, a solar energy system is shown comprising a housing10mounted on a base15. The housing10is a rectangular enclosure. The solar energy system includes a solar collector30installed within the housing10, at least one lens12installed on the upper surface of the housing10, the lens12preferably being a Fresnel lens and having a light absorption rate of less than 5%, and at least one light path mechanism correspondingly disposed between the at least one lens12and the solar collector30for collecting the light rays L incident on the at least one lens12. The light path mechanism is spaced from the at least one lens12. Wherein the interior of the housing10is a vacuum chamber for reducing light loss and achieving insulation.

In a first and a second embodiment of the present invention, the solar collector30includes an absorber31connected to a thermal energy storage tank32. The absorber31is a hollow spherical chamber, and its inner surface has an absorbing layer (not shown) capable of achieving at least 95% light absorption. When light rays L enter the interior of the absorber31, they are repeatedly reflected and converted into thermal energy. The material of the absorbing layer may be, but is not limited to, graphite, tungsten carbide, carbon nanotubes, or nanomaterials. In other embodiments, the solar collector30is not limited to the aforementioned structure and may be any form of solar collector30.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, which illustrate the first embodiment of the present invention, the multiple lenses12are installed on the upper surface of the housing10. The light path mechanism is a light guide tube assembly comprising multiple spaced light guide tubes21. The portion of each light guide tube21near the upper surface of the housing10is composed of multiple spaced tubes. One end of the light guide tube assembly is connected to the absorber31of the solar collector30, and the other end is spaced apart from the lens12by a distance approximately equal to the focal length of the lens12, thereby reducing the inner diameter of the light guide tube21.

In the first embodiment, a reflecting layer21ais arranged on the inner surface of the light guide tube21to receive the light rays L reflected from the lens12, and an insulating layer21bis arranged on the outer surface of the light guide tube21. The insulating layer21bhas characteristics of low thermal conductivity, low radiation loss, and high-temperature resistance. The material of the insulating layer21bmay be, but is not limited to, zirconia, diatomaceous earth, ceramic wool, porous composites, or nanomaterials.

In practical use, the housing10can be mounted on the base15with the solar collector30installed inside the housing10. The solar collector30has the absorber31connected to the thermal energy storage tank32, which has an outlet pipe321and an inlet pipe322penetrating through a side surface of the housing10, and external liquid enters the thermal energy storage tank32through the inlet pipe322. When the thermal energy storage tank32contacts the absorber31of the solar collector30, the temperature of the absorber31is transferred to the thermal energy storage tank32, causing the liquid in the thermal energy storage tank32to heat up and evaporate. The gas then flows out through the outlet pipe321to a power generation device (not shown) and drives the power generation device to generate electricity by fluid kinetic energy or can be used for seawater desalination or steam reforming to produce hydrogen, among other applications.

Referring toFIG.2, which shows the light path within the light guide tube21, in the first embodiment, the upper surface of the housing10is oriented toward the sun. The light rays L are refracted and focused by the lens12into the light guide tube21, and undergo multiple reflections by the reflecting layer21abefore entering the interior of the absorber31of the solar collector30. At this point, the light rays L contact the absorbing layer of the absorber31and continue to undergo multiple reflections inside the absorber31while the absorbing layer converts the light rays L into thermal energy. The absorber31conducts the thermal energy to the thermal energy storage tank32, which then transfers the thermal energy through the outlet pipe321to external facilities for applications such as heating water in a storage tank for hot water use. In this embodiment, the direct contact between the absorber31and the thermal energy storage tank32reduces heat loss during the thermal energy transfer process.

Referring toFIGS.3and4, which illustrate the second embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface of the housing10is also provided with a retractable shade50that can cover the upper surface of the housing10. When the solar collector30is malfunctioning or temporarily out of use, the retractable shade50can be used to block sunlight and prevent heat generation. In addition, a cleaning device is also installed between the retractable shade50and the upper surface of the housing10. The cleaning device may be a roller brush52and/or a sprayer51. When the solar collector30is malfunctioning or temporarily out of use, the retractable shade50can be pulled up to cover the upper surface of the housing10, not only to block sunlight and prevent the solar collector30from being burned, but also to protect the housing10from damage caused by sand, hail, or other foreign objects. Moreover, as the retractable shade50is raised or lowered, it also cleans the surface of the housing10. The winding direction of the retractable shade50is downward, so that any foreign objects on the retractable shade50fall due to gravity during the winding process, thereby achieving a self-cleaning effect.

Referring toFIG.5, which illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention, in this embodiment, the multiple lenses12are installed on the upper surface of the housing10, and the light path mechanism is a light guide mirror assembly. The light path between each lens12and the solar collector30sequentially comprises at least one focal length conversion lens63, at least one reflector62, and at least one focusing lens61installed inside the housing10. The focal length conversion lens63is positioned relatively closer to the lens12, the focusing lens61is positioned relatively closer to the solar collector30, and the reflector62is positioned between the focal length conversion lens63and the focusing lens61. As a result, high, medium, and low temperature zones are formed between the absorber31, the light path mechanism, and the lens12, allowing for more effective selection of light-collecting materials to reduce costs.

Referring toFIG.6, which illustrates the light path of the light rays L through the light path mechanism and into the solar collector. When the light rays L are refracted through the lens12and enter the housing10, they are refracted by the focal length conversion lens63toward the reflector62, reflected by the reflector62toward the focusing lens61, and then focused by the focusing lens61into the absorber31. The light rays L are repeatedly reflected and absorbed within the solar collector30, generating thermal energy which is conducted by the absorber31to the thermal energy storage tank32and then transferred through the outlet pipe321to external facilities for applications such as heating water in a storage tank for hot water use.

Referring toFIGS.7and8, which illustrate a fourth and a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In these embodiments, the solar collector30comprises an absorber41connected to a thermal conduction trough42, a thermal conduction device43installed in the thermal conduction trough42, which may be, but is not limited to, a heat pipe, and a thermoelectric module44disposed between the thermal conduction trough42and the thermal conduction device43. The absorber41is a hollow spherical chamber, the thermal conduction trough42at the top of the absorber41is filled with a heat transfer medium and is connected to either the hot end of the thermoelectric module44or the thermal conduction device43, and when the thermoelectric module44is equipped, the thermal conduction device43is connected to the cold end of the thermoelectric module44. When the light rays L are refracted through the lens12and enter the housing10, they are repeatedly reflected and absorbed in the absorber41, thereby generating thermal energy. This thermal energy is then transferred through the heat transfer medium to the thermoelectric module44or the thermal conduction device43, which conducts the thermal energy to the thermal energy storage tank32or external facilities. This not only effectively utilizes the thermoelectric module44for power generation, but also transfers the waste heat from the thermoelectric module44to the thermal energy storage tank32or external facilities, thereby improving energy efficiency. In other embodiments, the solar collector30is not limited to the aforementioned structure and may be any form of solar collector.

Referring toFIGS.7and8, which illustrate the fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention. In these embodiments, the housing10is a rectangular enclosure with a multi-axis adjustment device151mounted on the base15and positioned corresponding to the center of gravity of the housing10(i.e., the intersection of the diagonal lines), thereby facilitating the adjustment of the angle of the housing10. In addition, four liquid-level counterbalance devices70are installed at the four corners inside the housing10, and the liquid-level counterbalance device70is a water tank. As the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the liquid-level counterbalance devices70are used in conjunction with the multi-axis adjustment device151to fully collect the sunlight. By individually controlling the liquid level in each water tank according to the position of the sun, the housing10can be oriented at different angles. For example, when the sun is shining from the right side of the housing10, the liquid level in the two water tanks on the right side of the housing10is controlled to be greater than the liquid level in the two water tanks on the left side, causing the housing10to tilt to the right. This allows the upper surface of the housing10to face the position of the sun to fully collect sunlight and achieve a sun-tracking effect. In other embodiments, the number of liquid-level counterbalance devices70can be two, installed at the midpoints of the two lengths or the two widths of the interior of the housing10to achieve the same effect of orienting the upper surface of the housing10toward the position of the sun. In addition, the housing10may also be other symmetrical geometric structures.

Referring toFIG.9, which illustrates a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the liquid-level counterbalance device70also includes a liquid-level adjustment controller. The liquid-level counterbalance device70is connected to an external water source72and a liquid storage tank74. The liquid-level adjustment controller is used to control the inflow and outflow of liquid in the water tank, introducing liquid from the external water source72into the water tank or discharging liquid from the water tank into the liquid storage tank74for resource reuse, thereby controlling the tilt angle of the housing10to achieve the sun-tracking effect.

By using the water pressure from the external water source72and the liquid-level adjustment controller to control the liquid level in the water tanks, the tilt angle of the housing10can be adjusted to achieve the sun-tracking function without using a power motor and saving energy consumption. Moreover, after sunset, the adjustment controller can be controlled to drain some of the liquid from the water tanks to allow the housing10to return to its initial morning position.

The present invention achieves a miniaturized and high-sunlight-utilization solar energy storage and power generation system by mounting the housing10on the base15having the multi-axis adjustment device151, using the liquid-level adjustment controller to control the liquid volume in the liquid-level counterbalance devices70, and incorporating the high efficiency light-collecting solar collector, thereby controlling the orientation of the upper surface of the housing10toward the position of the sun for sun-tracking.