Container, electric power generating device, container-filled beverage, and electric power generation method

Abstract

To provide a container that can generate electric power and extract the generated electric power to the outside.SOLUTION: A container comprises a power generation layer 4 provided on an outer surface thereof and including at least one of a photoelectric conversion layer and a thermoelectric conversion layer, and a terminal 5 connected to the power generation layer 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container including a power generation layer, a power generation device including the container, a container-packed beverage in which a beverage is stored in the container, and a power generation method using the container.

Background Art

[0002] As a method of adding value to a container, various studies have been conducted on combining a device operated by electricity with the container. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-523876 (Patent Document 1) discloses a refillable package having a radio frequency identification tag. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-504060 (Patent Document 2) discloses a package incorporating a perceptible output. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-509448 (Patent Document 3) discloses a container having a power supply display unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In any of Patent Documents 1 to 3, it is described that a power source for driving a device is combined with a container. However, these power sources are for driving the devices combined with the respective containers of Patent Documents 1 to 3, and it has not been considered to extract the power generated by the power source to the outside.

[0005] Therefore, there is a demand for the realization of a container that can generate electricity and extract the generated electric power to the outside, a power generation device including the container, a container-packed beverage in which a beverage is stored in the container, and a power generation method using the container.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The container according to the present invention is characterized by including a power generation layer provided on an outer surface and including at least one of a photoelectric conversion layer and a thermoelectric conversion layer, and a terminal connected to the power generation layer.

[0007] The power generation device according to the present invention includes at least one container including a power generation layer provided on an outer surface and including at least one of a photoelectric conversion layer and a thermoelectric conversion layer, and a container-side terminal connected to the power generation layer, a sheet-side terminal connectable to the container-side terminal, and a power collection circuit electrically connected to the sheet-side terminal.

[0008] The container-packed beverage according to the present invention is characterized in that a beverage is stored in a container including a power generation layer provided on an outer surface and including at least one of a photoelectric conversion layer and a thermoelectric conversion layer, and a terminal connected to the power generation layer.

[0009] The power generation method according to the present invention is characterized by using a container including a power generation layer provided on an outer surface and including at least one of a photoelectric conversion layer and a thermoelectric conversion layer, and a terminal connected to the power generation layer.

[0010] According to these configurations, the electric power generated by the power generation layer can be taken out through the terminal and used externally.

[0011] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the preferred embodiment examples described below.

[0012] As one aspect, the container according to the present invention preferably includes the terminal on the bottom surface.

[0013] According to this configuration, it is easy to extract power through the terminal.

[0014] In one aspect, the container according to the present invention preferably has the terminal connectable to an external load and can supply the power generated in the power generation layer to the external load connected to the terminal.

[0015] The power generated by the power generation layer can be utilized by an external load.

[0016] In one aspect, the container according to the present invention preferably includes an electron acceptor in the power generation layer.

[0017] According to this configuration, the power generation efficiency tends to be high.

[0018] In one aspect, the power generation device according to the present invention preferably has the container provided with the container-side terminal on the bottom surface, the current collecting sheet further including at least one placement portion on which the container can be placed, the sheet-side terminal being provided on the placement portion, and being configured such that the container-side terminal and the sheet-side terminal come into contact when the container is placed on the placement portion.

[0019] According to this configuration, it is possible to realize a state in which the power generated by the power generation layer can be extracted by a simple operation of placing the container on the placement portion.

[0020] In one aspect, the power generation device according to the present invention preferably has the current collecting sheet provided inside a deployable box body that houses a plurality of the containers.

[0021] According to this configuration, since the containers can be stored in the box body that also serves as the current collecting sheet, it is easy to reduce the area required for storing the power generation device.

[0022] In one aspect, the power generation method according to the present invention preferably includes arranging the power generation layer facing an energy source that emits at least one of light and heat.

[0023] According to this configuration, it is possible to adopt an arrangement that increases the power generation efficiency in accordance with the arrangement of the energy source.

[0024] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of exemplary and non-limiting embodiments with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] Embodiments of the container, power generation device, container-packed beverage, and power generation method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, a container 1 as an embodiment of the container according to the present invention, a container-packed beverage 10 as an embodiment of the container-packed beverage according to the present invention, a power generation device 100 as an embodiment of the power generation device according to the present invention, and a power generation method using these will be described.

[0027] 〔Configuration of Container and Container-Packed Beverage〕 The container 1 according to the present embodiment includes a container body 2, a lid 3, a power generation layer 4, and a terminal 5 (FIG. 1). The container-packed beverage 10 is one in which a beverage 11 is stored in the container 1. More specifically, the mouth of the container body 2 in which the beverage 11 is stored is sealed by the lid 3. The power generation layer 4 is provided on the outer surface of the container body 2, that is, the surface on the side opposite to the side where the beverage 11 is stored. The terminal 5 is provided on the bottom surface of the container body 2.

[0028] The container body 2 is a part that functions to contain the contents in the container 1, and in this embodiment, it is a bottle-shaped body made of a resin material. The container body 2 is formed of a resin material such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, or polypropylene. The origin of these resin materials can be petroleum, plant-derived raw materials, recycled raw materials, etc. A male screw that can be screwed with the lid 3 is formed at the mouth of the container body 2.

[0029] The resin material forming the container body 2 preferably has a water vapor transmission rate of 50 g / m 2 / day or less, and more preferably 10 g / m 2 / day or less. When this condition is satisfied, the container 1 can be suitably used for applications where storage for a relatively long period such as disaster preparedness water storage is assumed. Note that the lower limit of the water vapor transmission rate of the resin material is not particularly limited, but for example, it may be 1 g / m 2 / day or more.

[0030] The lid 3 is a part that functions to prevent leakage of the contents contained in the container body 2 in the container 1, and in this embodiment, it is a lid body made of a resin material that is screwed onto the mouth of the container body 2. The lid 3 is formed of a resin material such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, or polypropylene. The origin of these resin materials can be petroleum, plant-derived raw materials, recycled raw materials, etc. The resin material forming the container body 2 and the resin material forming the lid 3 may be the same or different. A female screw that can be screwed with the male screw at the mouth of the container body 2 is formed on the inner surface of the lid 3.

[0031] The power generation layer 4 is a layer containing at least one of a photoelectric conversion layer and a thermoelectric conversion layer, and is provided on the outer surface of the container body 2. The power generation layer 4 can be provided in forms such as a coating film, a film, or a panel, but is preferably a coating film. In FIG. 1, a mode in which the power generation layer 4 is provided on the side surface of the container body 2 is shown.

[0032] When the power generation layer 4 includes a photoelectric conversion layer, the photoelectric conversion layer may include an electron donor and an electron acceptor. The electron donor can be, for example, P3HT, PTB7, PTB7-Th, zinc phthalocyanine, etc., but is not limited thereto. The electron acceptor can be, for example, metal alkoxide, fullerene derivative (for example, PC 61 BM, PC 71 BM, etc.), perylene diimide, and its derivatives, etc., but is not limited thereto. The power generation layer of this embodiment can be obtained, for example, by applying a solution containing an electron donor and an electron acceptor to the outer surface of the container body 2 to form a coating film containing a photoelectric conversion layer on the outer surface.

[0033] When the power generation layer 4 includes a thermoelectric conversion layer, the thermoelectric conversion layer may include an electron donor and an electron acceptor. The electron donor can be, for example, P3HT, PTB7, PTB7-Th, zinc phthalocyanine, etc., but is not limited thereto. The electron acceptor can be, for example, metal alkoxide, fullerene derivative (for example, PC 61 BM, PC 71 BM, etc.), perylene diimide, and its derivatives, etc., but is not limited thereto. The power generation layer of this embodiment can be obtained, for example, by applying a solution containing an electron donor and an electron acceptor to the outer surface of the container body 2 to form a coating film containing a thermoelectric conversion layer on the outer surface.

[0034] As exemplified above, there is an overlap between the examples of the substances constituting the photoelectric conversion layer and the examples of the substances constituting the thermoelectric conversion layer. Therefore, there may be a case where the power generation layer 4 is both a photoelectric conversion layer and a thermoelectric conversion layer (the power generation layer 4 has both a photoelectric conversion function and a thermoelectric conversion function).

[0035] Terminal 5 is a terminal electrically connected to the power generation layer 4 and is provided on the bottom surface of the container body 2. Terminal 5 can be connected to an external load. When terminal 5 is connected to an external load such as a lighting device or a communication device, the electric power generated in the power generation layer 4 can be utilized. In FIG. 1, an example of connecting terminal 5 to a smartphone S to charge the smartphone S is shown. Terminal 5 can use any material having conductivity in any form. For example, a terminal material made of metal may be attached to the bottom surface of the container body 2, or a metal coating film may be formed on the bottom surface of the container body 2.

[0036] The beverage 11 can be a soft drink (carbonated drink, fruit drink, coffee drink, tea-based drink, mineral water, soy milk, vegetable drink, sports drink, cocoa drink, etc.), an alcoholic beverage, a milk drink, or the like. If the beverage 11 is sterilized, the container-packed beverage 10 can be suitably used for applications where storage for a relatively long period such as a disaster-preparedness beverage is assumed. The sterilization method is not limited and can be a known method such as heat sterilization, filtration sterilization, ultraviolet sterilization, ozone sterilization, or the like.

[0037] 〔Configuration of the power generation device〕 The power generation device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of containers 1 and a current collecting sheet 20 (FIG. 2). The container 1 is as described above (FIG. 1). In the power generation device 100, the presence or absence of the content in the container 1 is not limited. Therefore, an empty container 1 may be used, or a container 1 containing a content (for example, the container-packed beverage 10) may be used. Further, when a plurality of containers 1 are used, an empty container 1 and a container 1 containing a content may be mixed. Hereinafter, the case of using the container-packed beverage 10 will be described as an example.

[0038] The current collecting sheet 20 includes a placement portion 21 on which the container 1 (container-packed beverage 10) can be placed, a sheet-side terminal 22 provided on the placement portion 21, a current collecting circuit 23 electrically connected to the sheet-side terminal 22, and an output terminal 24. The material forming the current collecting sheet 20 is not particularly limited as long as it is an insulator, and can be resin, wood, paper, cloth, or the like.

[0039] On the placement part 21, a figure having a shape close to the planar projection shape of the container 1 is drawn. This figure serves as a mark when the user of the power generation device 100 places the container 1 on the placement part 21.

[0040] The sheet-side terminal 22 is a terminal that can be electrically connected to the terminal 5 (an example of a container-side terminal) of the container 1 and is provided on the placement part 21. When the container 1 is placed on the placement part 21, the terminal 5 provided on the bottom surface of the container 1 comes into contact with the sheet-side terminal 22 provided on the placement part 21, and both terminals are electrically connected.

[0041] The power collection circuit 23 is an electric circuit electrically connected to the sheet-side terminal 22, and the output terminal 24 is an output terminal provided on the power collection circuit 23. The electric power generated in the power generation layer 4 of the container 1 is taken out from the output terminal 24 via the terminal 5, the sheet-side terminal 22, and the power collection circuit 23. For simplicity, only a part of the power collection circuit 23 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0042] A plurality of placement parts 21 and sheet-side terminals 22 are provided, and all of the plurality of sheet-side terminals 22 are connected to the power collection circuit 23. When a plurality of containers 1 are placed on the plurality of placement parts 21, the electric power generated in the power generation layers 4 of the plurality of containers 1 is aggregated by the power collection circuit 23, and this can be taken out from the output terminal 24. Therefore, a larger output can be obtained than when the container 1 is used alone.

[0043] Note that the number of placement parts 21 and the number of containers 1 do not have to match. That is, the power generation device 100 may be used by placing the container 1 only on some of the plurality of placement parts 21. For example, when the power generation layer 4 includes a photoelectric conversion layer, the electromotive force of the power generation layer 4 may be affected by the sunlight exposure of the container 1. Therefore, if the container 1 is placed by selecting a placement part 21 with good sunlight exposure conditions, the output can be increased. Although the sunlight exposure conditions may change depending on the time zone, in the present embodiment, the output can be kept high following the change in the sunlight exposure conditions by a simple operation of only changing the placement part 21 on which the container 1 is placed.

[0044] The current collecting sheet 20 may have functions other than its function as part of the power generation device 100. For example, when the current collecting sheet 20 is a resin sheet, in addition to using the current collecting sheet 20 as part of the power generation device 100, it can also be used for applications such as blindfolding, temporary enclosures, and emergency measures for damaged houses.

[0045] Also, when the current collecting sheet 20 is made of cardboard, the current collecting sheet 20 can also serve as a box for containing the bottled beverage 10 (Figs. 3 and 4). By assembling a cardboard sheet provided with the placement portion 21, the sheet side terminal 22, the current collecting circuit 23, and the output terminal 24 into a box body 25 with these components facing inward and storing the bottled beverage 10 in the box body 25, the bottled beverage 10 and the current collecting sheet 20 can be stored integrally (Fig. 3). That is, the current collecting sheet 20 can be provided inside a deployable box body 25 for accommodating a plurality of containers 1. And when the box body 25 is disassembled and expanded, the box body 25 can be used as the current collecting sheet 20 (Fig. 4). In this case, it is arbitrary where to provide the placement portion 21, the sheet side terminal 22, the current collecting circuit 23, and the output terminal 24 inside the box body 25. Fig. 4 shows an example where the placement portion 21 and the sheet side terminal 22 are provided on the bottom surface of the box body 25 and the output terminal 24 is provided on the side surface of the box body 25. Note that a plurality of box bodies 25 can be expanded to form a plurality of current collecting sheets 20, and these can be connected to each other to increase the scale of the power generation device 100.

[0046] According to the above configuration, the container 1 can be used for two purposes: beverage storage and power generation. For example, if the bottled beverage 10 with drinking water stored in the container 1 is stored as disaster preparedness water, the power generation device can be stored at the same time as the disaster preparedness water. As a result, necessary materials in the event of a disaster can be efficiently stored in a limited space such as a disaster preparedness supply warehouse. Also, conventional containers lose their utility value in shelters etc. after the contents are consumed, but the container 1 according to this embodiment can continue to be used for power generation even after the contents are consumed. This can reduce the empty containers discharged from shelters etc., which is advantageous in situations where operations such as resource recovery and waste treatment are different from normal times.

[0047] [Power generation method] The power generation method according to this embodiment generates power using the container 1. That is, the power generated by the power generation layer 4 of the container 1 is taken out and utilized. Here, the case of generating power using the power generation device 100 (including the container 1) will be described as an example.

[0048] First, install the current collecting sheet 20. The power generation layer 4 generates power based on at least one of the operating principles of converting light energy into electric power by a photoelectric conversion layer and converting thermal energy into electric power by a thermoelectric conversion layer. The current collecting sheet 20 is preferably installed at a location advantageous for these conversions. That is, when the power generation layer 4 includes a photoelectric conversion layer, it is preferable to install the current collecting sheet 20 at a location advantageous for utilizing light energy, such as a place with good sunlight. Also, when the power generation layer 4 includes a thermoelectric conversion layer, it is preferable to install the current collecting sheet 20 at a location advantageous for utilizing thermal energy, such as close to a heat source like a campfire or heating equipment. That is, it is preferable to install the current collecting sheet 20 at a position close to an energy source that emits at least one of light and heat.

[0049] Next, place the container 1 (the bottled beverage 10) on the placement portion 21 of the current collecting sheet 20. The container 1 may be placed on all of the plurality of placement portions 21, or only on a part of them. Here, when the container 1 is placed only on a part of the placement portions 21, it is preferable to place the container 1 on the placement portion 21 close to the energy source. Also, when the power generation layer 4 is provided only on a part of the outer surface of the container 1, it is preferable to arrange the power generation layer 4 facing the energy source.

[0050] Finally, connect an external load to the output terminal 24 of the current collecting sheet 20. Thereby, the power generated in the power generation layer 4 can be utilized.

[0051] [Other embodiments] Finally, other embodiments of the container, power generation device, container-packed beverage, and power generation method according to the present invention will be described. Note that the configurations disclosed in the following respective embodiments can be applied in combination with the configurations disclosed in other embodiments as long as there is no contradiction.

[0052] In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the container body 2 and the lid 3 of the container 1 are made of a resin material has been described as an example. However, in the present invention, the material of each part of the container is not limited. For example, a power generation layer may be provided on the outer surface of a container body made of a material such as metal or glass.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the container 1 includes the container body 2 and the lid 3 has been described as an example. However, in the present invention, the configuration of the container is not limited. For example, a container in a form that cannot be resealed once opened, such as a pull-top can, may be used.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the container 1 includes the terminal 5 on the bottom surface has been described as an example. However, in the container according to the present invention, the position of the terminal is not limited to the bottom surface.

[0055] In the above embodiment, in the power generation device 100, when the container 1 including the terminal 5 on the bottom surface is placed on the placement portion 21 of the current collecting sheet 20, the configuration in which the terminal 5 of the container 1 and the sheet-side terminal 22 of the current collecting sheet 20 are connected has been described as an example. However, as described above, the position of the container-side terminal is not limited to the bottom surface. Correspondingly, the positional relationship and connection method between the container-side terminal and the sheet-side terminal are not limited. For example, when the container-side terminal is provided on the side surface of the container, a conducting wire for connecting the container-side terminal and the sheet-side terminal may be provided as an accessory of the current collecting sheet. For example, when the current collecting sheet is a cardboard sheet, a portion serving as a conducting wire may be provided on a part of the cardboard sheet and made separable. Then, by separating this portion, it can be used to three-dimensionally connect the container-side terminal provided on the side surface of the container and the sheet-side terminal of the current collecting sheet. Note that in this case, the place where the container is placed does not have to be on the current collecting sheet. That is, in the power generation device according to the present invention, the placement portion of the current collecting sheet is an arbitrary component.

[0056] Regarding other configurations as well, it should be understood that all the embodiments disclosed in this specification are illustrative in all respects and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereby. A person skilled in the art will easily understand that appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, other embodiments modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention are naturally included in the scope of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

[0057] The present invention can be used, for example, as disaster preparedness supplies.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0058] 1: Container 2: Container body 3: Lid 4: Power generation layer 5: Terminal 10: Beverage filled in the container 11: Beverage 20: Current collecting sheet 21: Mounting portion 22: Sheet side terminal 23: Current collecting circuit 24: Output terminal 100: Power generation device

Claims

1. A container comprising a power generation layer provided on an outer surface and including at least one of a photoelectric conversion layer and a thermoelectric conversion layer, and a terminal connected to the power generation layer. The container according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is provided on a bottom surface.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is provided on a bottom surface.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is connectable to an external load, and power generated in the power generation layer can be supplied to the external load connected to the terminal.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the power generation layer is provided on a side surface.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the power generation layer includes an electron acceptor.

6. At least one container comprising a power generation layer provided on an outer surface and including at least one of a photoelectric conversion layer and a thermoelectric conversion layer, and a container-side terminal connected to the power generation layer, and a current collecting sheet comprising a sheet-side terminal connectable to the container-side terminal and a current collecting circuit electrically connected to the sheet-side terminal. A power generation device including a current collecting sheet comprising a sheet-side terminal connectable to the container-side terminal and a current collecting circuit electrically connected to the sheet-side terminal.

7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the container has the container-side terminal on a bottom surface. The current collecting sheet according to claim 6, further comprising at least one mounting portion on which the container can be mounted, and the sheet-side terminal is provided on the mounting portion. The power generation device according to claim 6, wherein the container-side terminal and the sheet-side terminal are configured to be in contact with each other when the container is mounted on the mounting portion.

8. The power generation device according to claim 6, wherein the current collecting sheet is provided inside a deployable box body that houses a plurality of the containers.

9. A bottled beverage in which a beverage is contained in a container comprising a power generation layer provided on an outer surface and including at least one of a photoelectric conversion layer and a thermoelectric conversion layer, and a terminal connected to the power generation layer.

10. A power generation method using a container comprising a power generation layer provided on an outer surface and including at least one of a photoelectric conversion layer and a thermoelectric conversion layer, and a terminal connected to the power generation layer.

11. The power generation method according to claim 10, including arranging the power generation layer facing an energy source that emits at least one of light and heat.

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