Patent Publication Number: US-2011072817-A1

Title: Solar-based power generator

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to power generation, and more particularly to a solar-based power generator that uses a magnifying glass to concentrate ambient light on a volume of water or sewage to produce steam and/or methane gas, which then powers a steam generator and/or a methane burner to produce usable electricity. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     The availability of unlimited solar energy, in the form of solar radiation and heat, is an attractive source of energy for a wide variety of reasons, and for many diverse purposes. Many applications for harnessing or using solar radiation to generate electricity, or a useful mechanical output, are known. For example, silicon solar cells, which respond to light from the sun, are used to generate electricity, which then may be used directly or stored by charging a battery. Typically, solar cells generate only small amounts of electricity, so that solar cell systems generally are used only to operate electronic devices requiring relatively low power levels, such as portable calculators and the like. 
     Solar cell arrays many square feet in size have been used to power direct current motors to operate larger equipment, such as pool pumps and the like. Typically, however, solar cell arrays need to be extremely large in order to produce any substantial quantity of electricity. As a result, such solar cell arrays have not been found to be a practical source for utilizing energy from the sun, except in a few very specialized cases. Additionally, solar cells must be very carefully manufactured, using complex and costly processes, some of which are harmful, due to byproducts, to the environment. 
     It would be desirable to provide an electrical generator which relies on solar energy, but which is also efficient in energy production, and which his further environmentally friendly. Thus, a solar-based power generator solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     The solar-based power generator is a system for producing usable electricity from water, which is heated through concentration of ambient, environmental light. The solar-based power generator includes a reservoir having a base, at least one sidewall and an open upper end. The reservoir is dimensioned and configured for receiving a volume of water therein. A water input port is formed through the at least one sidewall, and water may be input using any suitable type of water pump or the like. The water may be from any source, including seawater, polluted or contaminated water, sewage or the like. 
     A convex lens is mounted on an upper edge of the at least one sidewall of the reservoir. The convex lens covers the open upper end of the reservoir. The convex lens includes upper and lower surfaces, which are preferably both convex, i.e., the lens is a double convex or converging lens, and preferably each surface has a constant radius of curvature. 
     Further, a steam output port is formed through the at least one sidewall, preferably above a fixed water line within the reservoir. A steam-based electrical generator is in communication with the interior of the reservoir, through the steam output port. The convex lens concentrates ambient light on the volume of water stored within the reservoir, thus heating the water and converting the water to steam. The steam generator generates usable electricity, which may then be drawn off to be used by external devices. 
     Additionally, a methane output port is preferably also formed through the at least one sidewall, also preferably above the fixed water line within the reservoir. A methane-burning electrical generator is in communication with the interior of the reservoir, through the methane output port. Pollutants in the water or sewage produce methane gas during heating and decomposition thereof, which may then be burned by the methane-burning electrical generator for producing further usable electricity. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a solar-based power generator according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a lens for a solar-based power generator according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the solar-based power generator  10  provides a system for producing usable electricity from water  14 , which is heated through concentration of ambient, environmental light. The solar-based power generator  10  includes a reservoir  12  having a base  13 , at least one sidewall  15  and an open upper end. Reservoir  12  may be formed from any suitable non-corrosive and watertight material. The reservoir  12  is dimensioned and configured for receiving a volume of water  14  therein. A water input port  36  is formed through the at least one sidewall  15 , and water  14  may be input using any suitable type of water pump or the like through an input pipe  38 . The water  14  may be from any source, including seawater, polluted or contaminated water, sewage or the like. It should be understood that multiple generators  10  may be used in a large-scale power plant. 
     A double convex lens  16  is mounted on an upper edge of the at least one sidewall  15  of the reservoir  12 . The lens  16  covers the open upper end of the reservoir  12 . As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the lens  16  includes upper and lower surfaces  30 ,  32 , respectively, which are both convex. Preferably, each surface  39 ,  32  has a constant radius of curvature. Preferably, the upper surface  30  of the convex lens spans an arc of approximately 180° and the lower surface  32  spans an angle α in a range between approximately 30° and 45°. The relatively wide arc of upper surface  30  allows for reception of ambient light over a wide range, thus making generator  10  usable at any time during the day, with the sun in any position. As shown, the upper and lower portions of lens  16  may be separated by a substantially rectangular (in side cross-section) central portion  34 , with the outer rim of central portion  34  providing a surface which rests on the upper edge of the at least one sidewall  15 . The rim of central portion  34  is preferably secured in a fluid-tight fashion to the upper edge, so that steam or methane produced in the reservoir  12  does not escape around the lens  16 . Lens  16  may be formed from any suitable type of material, such as transparent and colorless glass, and is dimensioned and configured to cover the upper edge of reservoir  12 . It should be understood that any suitable type of lens, or a plurality of lenses, may be utilized, depending upon the particular power production needs of the user. The lens  16  or other external lenses may further be used to pre-heat the water  14  before input into reservoir  12 . Alternatively, any other suitable type of water heater may be used for this purpose. 
     Further, a steam output port  11  is formed through the at least one sidewall  15 , preferably above a set water line within the reservoir  12 . A steam-based electrical generator  18  is in fluid communication with the interior of the reservoir  12  via the steam output port  11 . The lens  16  concentrates ambient light on the volume of water  14  stored within the reservoir  12 , thus heating the liquid water  14  and converting the liquid water  14  to steam (indicated by arrows  42 ). The steam generator  18  generates usable electricity, which may then be drawn off by any suitable line  22  to be used by external devices. Additionally, distilled water, produced by the used, cooled steam in generator  18 , may be drawn off via a tap  20 , for storage as purified, potable water. Steam generator  18  may be any suitable type of steam-based electrical generator, such as a steam turbine generator or the like. Such steam-based generators are well known in the art. Examples of steam-based turbine generators are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,952, issued to Doland; U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,332, issued to Kelmar; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,180, issued to Swanson, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     Additionally, a methane output port  17  is preferably also formed through the at least one sidewall  15 , also preferably above the set water line within the reservoir  12 . A methane-burning electrical generator  24  is in fluid communication with the interior of the reservoir  12 , via the methane output port  17 , such that pollutants in the water  14  produce methane gas during heating and decomposition thereof (indicated by arrows  40 ), which may then be burned by the methane-burning electrical generator  24  for producing further usable electricity, which is drawn off by any suitable line  26  for storage or usage by external devices. Methane generator  24  may be any suitable type of methane-based electrical generator. Such methane-burning generators are well known in the art. Examples of methane-based generators are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,300, issued to Hansen et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,734, issued to Markbreiter et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,348, issued to Acharya et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,543, issued to Rautenbach et al. 
     Following evaporation of water  14  within reservoir  12 , remaining residue, such as salt from seawater, organic matter from sewage, and/or chemicals from contaminated water, may be collected and used for other purposes. In operation, the user may switch between power generation from steam and power generation from methane, depending upon the particular type of liquid contained within reservoir  12  (for example, seawater would make use of steam-based electrical generator  18 , without producing methane, and raw sewage would make use of methane-burning generator  24 ). The user may either selectively activate the appropriate generator, or an automatic separator, for separating methane gas from steam, may be utilized. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.