SOLAR POWERED ELECTRICAL GENERATING SYSTEM

Abstract: A solar powered electrical generating system (10) includes a continuous hydraulic circuit (12) carrying a liquid (14) therethrough. A boiler (16) is fluidly connected to a first side of the continuous hydraulic circuit (12). A facility (18) is for heating the liquid (14) within the boiler (16). A condenser (20) is fluidly connected to a second side of the continuous hydraulic circuit (12). A facility (22) is for cooling the liquid (14) within the condenser (20). A hydraulic motor (24) is fluidly connected into a flow line of the continuous hydraulic circuit (12) between a lower exit port of the boiler (16) and an upper entrance port of the condenser (20). The liquid (14) when heated in the boiler (16) will flow from the boiler (16) to the condenser (20) to operate the hydraulic motor (24). A recirculation pump (26) is fluidly connected into a recirculation line of the continuous hydraulic circuit (12) between a lower exit port of the condenser (20) and an entrance port of the boiler (16). The liquid (16) when cooled in the condenser (20) will flow back to the boiler (16). A check valve (28) is in the recirculation line of the continuous hydraulic circuit (12). An electric generator (30) is provided. A structure (32) is for coupling the electric generator (30) to the hydraulic motor (24), so that the hydraulic motor (24) will drive the electric generator (30) to produce electricity.

Description: SOLAR POWERED ELECTRICAL GENERATING SYSTEM Description Technical Field The instant invention relates generally to solar energy collectors and more specifically it relates to a solar powered electrical generating system. All life on earth depends on energy from the sun. Solar energy is the source of energy for photosynthesis. It provides the warmth necessary for plants and animals to survive. The heat from the sun causes water on the earth's surface to evaporate and form clouds that eventually provide fresh rainwater. Solar energy is the result of thermonuclear fusion reactions deep within the sun. These reactions produce so much energy that they keep the surface temperature of the sun at about 10,300°F (5,7000°C). Even though solar energy is the largest source of energy received by the earth, its intensity at the earth's surface is actually very low due to the large distance between the earth and the sun and the fact that the earth's atmosphere absorbs and scatters some of the radiation. Even on a clear day with the sun directly overhead, the energy that reaches the earth's surface is reduced about 30 percent by the atmosphere. When the sun is near the horizon and the sky is overcast, the solar energy at ground level can be negligible. It also varies from one point to another on the earth's surface. Nevertheless, in the 20th century, the sun's energy has become an increasingly attractive source for small amounts of direct power to meet human needs. A number of devices for collecting solar energy and converting it into electricity have been developed, and solar energy is used in a variety of ways. Solar energy is used to heat houses, and in many countries specially designed solar ovens are used for cooking. The sun also supplies energy to electric generators that provide power for weather and communications satellites and for radio and television equipment. Disclosure of the Invention A primary object of the present invention is to provide a solar powered electrical generating system that creates electricity using the sun as the source of energy in which infrared energy is turned into kinetic energy, which then operates a generator that produces electricity. An additional object is to provide a solar powered electrical generating system that is cost effective and produces excess free electricity. A further object is to provide a solar powered electrical generating system that is simple and easy to use. A still further object is to provide a solar powered electrical generating system that is economical in cost to manufacture. Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. Brief Description of the Drawing Figures Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of a first embodiment of the instant invention. FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of the instant invention. FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view partly in cross section, showing an external generator outside the hermetically sealed housing coupled to the hydraulic motor via a magnetic drive shaft assembly. The reference numbers utilized in the drawing figures are defined as follows. 10 solar powered electrical generating system 12 continuous hydraulic circuit of 10 liquid in 12 boiler of 10 heating facility of 10 condenser of 10 cooling facility of 10 hydraulic motor of 10 recirculation pump of 10 check valve of 10 electric generator of 10 coupling structure of 10 insulated heated water storage tank of 18 flat plate solar collector panel of 18 the sun circulation pump of 18 photocell of 18 gas hot water heater of 18 propane/natural gas tank for 44 small water circulation pump of 18 aquastat thermostat of 18 water to air heat exchanger of 22 small water circulation pump of 22 aquastat thermostat of 22 drive pulley of 32 on 24 driven pulley of 32 on 30 belt of 32 between 58 and 60 hermetically sealed housing for 24, 26 and 30 inverter of 10 insulated heated water storage tank of 18 solar array of 18 first circulation pump of 18 second circulation pump of 18 cold water storage tank of 22 cold water line into 76 circulation pump of 22 heat pump chiller of 22 drive shaft for 32 magnetic drive shaft assembly for 32 non-ferrous hermetically sealed housing for 24 and 26 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a solar powered electrical generating system 10 comprising a continuous hydraulic circuit 12 carrying a liquid 14 therethrough. A boiler 16 is fluidly connected to a first side of the continuous hydraulic circuit 12. A facility 18 is for heating the liquid 14 within the boiler 16. A condenser 20 is fluidly connected to a second side of the continuous hydraulic circuit 12. A facility 22 is for cooling the liquid 14 within the condenser 20. A hydraulic motor 24 is fluidly connected into a flow line of the continuous hydraulic circuit 12 between a lower exit port of the boiler 16 and an upper entrance port of the condenser 20. The liquid 14 when heated in the boiler 16 will flow from the boiler 16 to the condenser 20, to operate the hydraulic motor 24. A recirculation pump 26 is fluidly connected into a recirculation line of the continuous hydraulic circuit 12 between a lower exit port of the condenser 20 and an entrance port of the boiler 16. The liquid 14 when cooled in the condenser 20 will flow back to the boiler 16. A check valve 28 is in the recirculation line of the continuous hydraulic circuit 12. An electric generator 30 is provided. A structure 32 is for coupling the electric generator 30 to the hydraulic motor 24, so that the hydraulic motor 24 will drive the electric generator 30 to produce electricity. The liquid 14 is a halogenated hydrocarbon mixture. The heating facility 18, as shown in Figure 1, includes an insulated heated water storage tank 34 fluidly connected to the boiler 16. A flat plate solar collector panel 36 which collects heat from the sun 38 is fluidly connected to the heated water storage tank 34. A circulation pump 40 is fluidly connected between the heated water storage tank 34 and the flat plate solar collector panel 36. A photocell 42 powers the circulation pump 40. The heating facility 18 in Figure 1 contains a back up gas hot water heater 44, fluidly connected between the heated water storage tank 34 and the boiler 16. The gas hot water heater 44 will provide energy if the sun 38 does not shine. A propane/natural gas tank 46 powers the gas hot water heater 44. A small water circulation pump 48 is fluidly connected between the boiler 16 and the gas hot water heater 44. An aquastat thermostat 50 is on the boiler 16 and is electrically connected to the small water circulation pump 48. The aquastat thermostat 50 will operate the small water circulation pump 48, when the temperature drops in the boiler 16 a predetermined amount. The cooling facility 22, as shown in Figure 1, consists of a water to air heat exchanger 52 fluidly connected to the condenser 20. A small water circulation pump 54 is fluidly connected between the condenser 20 and the water to air heat exchanger 52. An aquastat thermostat 56 is on the condenser 20 and is electrically connected to the small water circulation pump 54. The aquastat thermostat 56 will operate the small water circulation pump 54, when the temperature rises in the condenser 20 a predetermined amount. The coupling structure 32 in Figure 1, includes a drive pulley 58 on the hydraulic motor 24. A driven pulley 60 is on the generator 30. A belt 62 extends between the drive pulley 58 and the driven pulley 60. A hermetically sealed housing 64 retains the hydraulic motor 24, the recirculation pump 26 and the generator 30 therein. An inverter 66, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is electrically connected to the electric generator 30. The inverter 66 will convert DC current from the electric generator 30 to AC current. The heating facility 18 in Figure 2, contains an insulated heated water storage tank 68 fluidly connected to the boiler 16. A solar array 70 which collects heat from the sun 38 is fluidly connected to the heated water storage tank 68. A first circulation pump 72 is fluidly connected between the heated water storage tank 68 and the solar array 70. A second circulation pump 74 is fluidly connected between the heated water storage tank 68 and the boiler 16. The cooling facility 22 in Figure 2, consists of a cold water storage tank 76 fluidly connected between the condenser 20, the heated water storage tank 68 and a cold water line 78. A circulation pump 80 is fluidly connected between the condenser 20 and the cold water storage tank 76. A heat pump chiller 81 is fluidly connected between the cold water storage tank 76 and the hot water storage tank 68. The heat pump chiller 81 can recycle waste heat from the cold water storage tank 76 to the heated water storage tank 68. The coupling structure 32 in Figure 2, includes a drive shaft 82 on the hydraulic motor 24 directly connected to the generator 30. The coupling structure 32 in Figure 3, consists of a magnetic drive shaft assembly 84 between the hydraulic motor 24 and the generator 30. A non-ferrous hermetically sealed housing 86 is provided in Figure 3, to retain the hydraulic motor 24 and the recirculation pump 26 therein. The generator 30 is externally located outside of the non- ferrous hermetically sealed housing 86. Energy Calculation Example 1,000,000 BTU of free heat comes from the sun 38 daily. The hydraulic motor 24 and generator 30 based on an efficiency of 35% will convert 35% of that heat to electricity. This results in 350,000 BTU being converted to electrical energy. 1 kwhr = 3,413 BTU, so 350,000 BTU = 350,000 BTU*1 kwhr/3,413 BTU = 102 kilowatts available per day. The two small circulation pumps 48 and 54 and a fan in the water to air heat exchanger 52, uses no more than 300 watts total per hour and runs only about 50% of the time. 300 X 12 = 3600 watts or 3.6 kwhr per day is consumed by the system 10 in order for it to run. 102 kwhr minus 3.6 kwhr leaves 98.4 kwhr available for use daily.

Claims: SOLAR POWERED ELECTRICAL GENERATING SYSTEM Claims 1. A solar powered electrical generating system comprising: a) a continuous hydraulic circuit carrying a halogenated hydrocarbon liquid therethrough; b) a boiler fluidly connected to a first side of said continuous hydraulic circuit; c) means for heating said liquid within said boiler comprising a heated water storage tank fluidly connected to said boiler, a flat plate solar collector panel collecting heat from the sun fluidly connected to deliver solar heated water to said heated water storage tank, first pump means for circulating water between said collector panel, said storage tank and said boiler, and a photocell to power said first pump means; d) a condenser fluidly connected to a second side of said continuous hydraulic circuit; e) means for cooling said liquid within said condenser comprising a water- to-air heat exchanger fluidly connected to said condenser, second pump means for circulating water between said condenser and said water-to-air heat exchanger, an aquastat thermostat on said condenser electrically connected to said second pump means for operating said second pump means when the temperature rises in said condenser by a predetermined amount; f) a hydraulic motor fluidly connected into a flow line of said continuous hydraulic circuit between a lower exit port of said boiler and an upper entrance port of said condenser, so that said liquid when heated in said boiler will flow from said boiler to said condenser to operate said hydraulic motor; g) a recirculation pump fluidly connected into a recirculation line of said continuous hydraulic circuit between a lower exit port of said condenser and an entrance port of said boiler, so that said liquid when cooled in said condenser will flow back to said boiler; h) a check valve in said recirculation line of said continuous hydraulic circuit; i) an electric generator; j) means for coupling said electric generator to said hydraulic motor, so that said hydraulic motor will drive said electric generator to produce electricity; and k) a back-up hot water heater fluidly connected between said heated water storage tank and said boiler, hydrocarbon fuel means to power said hot water heater, third pump means for circulating water between said boiler and said back-up hot water heater, and an aquastat thermostat on said boiler electrically connected to said third pump means to operate said third pump means when the temperature drops in said boiler by a predetermined amount. 2. A solar powered electrical generating system as recited in Claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes: a) a drive pulley on said hydraulic motor; b) a driven pulley on said generator; and c) a belt extending between said drive pulley and said driven pulley. 3. A solar powered electrical generating system as recited in Claim 2, further including a hermetically sealed housing to retain said hydraulic motor, said recirculation pump and said generator therein. 4. A solar powered electrical generating system as recited in Claim 1, further including an inverter electrically connected to said electric generator, whereby said inverter will convert DC current from said electric generator to AC current.

Inventors: SPARKMAN SCOTT, SPARKMAN, SCOTT
Applicants: SPARKMAN SCOTT, SPARKMAN, SCOTT
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B60K16
IPC codes: F03G6, F24D11