Power generating hybrid ventilation devices, systems and methods

Abstract

A ventilation device for generating electricity, the device comprising a head and a base, the electricity being generated by rotation of the head relative to the base, the head including a receptacle in which a solar cell is disposed and a number of blades disposed around the head, whereby the head is rotated in response to airflow around and / or above the head.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hybrid ventilation device, system and method for generating electricity. [Background technology]

[0002] The world is transitioning towards green energy solutions in light of the rapidly evolving climate crisis. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, the currently available green power generation systems are insufficient to meet the demands of the consumers. In this regard, the applicant has identified that the peak energy consumption in the community occurs during the middle or coldest months of winter and the middle or hottest months of summer. The applicant has also identified that while the consumption of the consumers peaks at these times, the green energy production potential of the currently available green power generation systems is inefficient at these times on the calendar, since the sun does not shine and there is little wind.

[0004] It is therefore desirable to supplement current commercial-scale energy generation with additional green energy generation systems, and also to obtain energy closer to the intended point of use.

[0005] There is a need to address the above issues and at least provide a useful alternative. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ventilation device for generating electricity, the device comprising a head and a base, the device generating electricity upon rotation of the head relative to the base. The head includes: a receptacle in which the solar cell is disposed; and A number of blades arranged around the periphery of the head to rotate the head in response to airflow around and / or over the head.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle is generally a conical structure. Preferably, the blades are arranged around the periphery of the conical structure.

[0008] The device may further include a convex lens or a combination of a convex lens and a Fresnel lens device on top of the receptacle configured to focus and concentrate sunlight onto the solar cell and to magnify the concentration of sunlight to achieve maximum solar exposure.

[0009] Preferably, the solar cells are concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) cells and are configured to output electricity and heat. The receptacle may have a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings in the upper portion through which heat can escape. Preferably, the openings are positioned such that air exiting the openings is directed towards the blades, thereby causing rotation of the head.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the device may further comprise at least one energy conversion device for converting the rotational energy of the head into electrical energy. Preferably, the energy conversion device includes at least one stator coil and rotor pair located at the junction of the head and the base and / or in the base near the bottom section of the conical structure. The coil and / or rotor may be formed of one or more PCB boards consisting of multiple layers in series and parallel.

[0011] The rotor may be fixed to the rotating head and includes a pair of spaced apart disks, each having a plurality of permanent magnets disposed about its periphery, the magnetic axis of each magnet being generally perpendicular to the surface of the disk, the magnetic axes of adjacent magnets on each disk alternating in orientation, and opposing magnets on the spaced apart disks being oppositely oriented. The permanent magnets may be mounted on an annular magnetic yoke.

[0012] Preferably, the stator coil is formed from at least one annular board having a plurality of generally helical shaped windings disposed about its periphery, each winding being connected in series.

[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a power generation system including a device of the type described above mounted on the roof of a building and in fluid communication with the space below the roof, a battery, and an electrical circuit connecting the device and the battery, the device being used to generate electricity for charging the battery.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of harvesting energy from multiple sources to generate electrical energy, the method comprising the steps of: An apparatus of the type described above is provided. An apparatus is installed on the roof of a building in communication with the space below the roof. The device is connected to the battery via an electrical circuit. Generates electricity by: A device that rotates in response to air currents entering the device due to wind and / or heat escaping from under the roof, and / or Sunlight incident on the device, and storing the generated electrical energy in a battery. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a ventilation system for power generation according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a conical receptacle used in the device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an exemplary side view of the device. [Figure 6a]6a and 6b are enlarged cross-sectional views of the energy conversion device mounted on the device. [Figure 6b] 6a and 6b are enlarged cross-sectional views of the energy conversion device mounted on the device. [Figure 7a] 7a and 7b are plan views of a stator of a magnetic disk used in the device. [Figure 7b] 7a and 7b are plan views of a stator of a magnetic disk used in the device. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of a stator coil and rotor pair. [Figure 9a] 9a and 9b are side views of the upper and lower coils, respectively, which form the stator coil. [Figure 9b] 9a and 9b are side views of the upper and lower coils, respectively, which form the stator coil. [Figure 10a] FIG. 10a is an enlarged side view of the electrical windings on the stator coil. [Figure 10b] FIG. 10b is an enlarged side view of an alternative electrical winding on the stator coil. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the energy conversion device showing magnetic field lines. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 shows a rotor used in an alternative energy conversion device. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 shows a stator coil used in an alternative energy conversion device. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative energy conversion device. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is an exemplary side view of a system including the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] In order that the invention may be more readily understood, embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] The device 10 is shown in Figure 1. The device 10 is for use on a roof and is configured to generate electricity.

[0018] The device 10 includes a head 12 and a base 14, where rotation of the head 12 relative to the base 14 generates electricity. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the device 10 is similar in shape to conventional turbine ventilators or "wheelie birds" that are typically installed on rooftops. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the device 10 is not limited to rooftop use, but may be used in other situations where ventilation is provided, such as from the side of a building, a basement, an underground facility, or from a natural source of geothermal hot air.

[0019] Head 12 includes a receptacle 16 in which a solar cell 18 is disposed (FIG. 4). Providing device 10 with solar cell 18 increases the amount of energy generated since the device can operate under solar energy as well as wind and thermal energy. Receptacle 16 is generally a conical structure, although it is understood that receptacle 16 can take other open-topped shapes suitable for holding a solar cell.

[0020] Solar cells 18 are photovoltaic (PV) cells configured to convert light energy into electricity. In a preferred form, the solar cells are concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) cells, which have been found to be more efficient than conventional PV cells. CPV cells also operate at higher temperatures and, in addition to generating electricity, generate heat within receptacle 16, as described further below.

[0021] The head 12 also includes a number of blades 20 disposed about the periphery of the head 12, which cause the head to rotate in response to air currents around and / or over the head. The air currents may result from heat generated under the roof and escaping through the device 10, causing the device to rotate. Alternatively, the air currents may be generated by wind passing over the device. The blades 20 are disposed about the periphery of the cone structure 16. The blades 20 are generally sunflower shaped, but may be other shapes, and are configured to rotate in response to wind of various speeds and directions. In a preferred embodiment, eighteen blades are provided. The material of each blade may be constructed of a lightweight metal alloy, carbon fiber material, durable recycled plastic, or other similar materials.

[0022] A convex lens 22 is positioned on top of the receptacle 16 to focus sunlight onto the solar cell 18. The lens 22 is a fixed plano-convex lens located at the top of the receptacle 16 where it is most directly and fully exposed to sunlight and may protrude from the top of the receptacle 16 like a bubble. The lens 22 may also be constructed of multiple parts and may include both Fresnel and convex lenses. The lens 22 is configured to focus light to a focal point at the bottom of the receptacle 16, which serves to maximize the amount of solar energy collected. In the preferred embodiment, the lens is an N-BK7 plano-convex lens with an anti-reflective coating and a scratch-dig surface quality of 40-20, although an "economy" lens with a scratch-dig surface quality of 60-40 may also be used.

[0023] The position of the CPV cell 18 within the receptacle 16 is such that the CPV cell 18 intersects at a designated point above the focal point of the convex lens 22 to absorb the maximum solar radiation coverage across the CPV cell 18 .

[0024] A Fresnel lens may be placed beneath lens 20 to further direct and concentrate the sun's rays within the receptacle, potentially extending the duration of sunlight exposure during the day.

[0025] 4, the top of the receptacle 16 has a number of circumferentially spaced openings 24 through which heat can escape. As heat is generated by the solar cells 18, the warm air within the receptacle builds up pressure that must be relieved. The openings 24 are positioned such that the air exiting the openings 24 is directed toward the blades 20, further aiding in the rotation of the head 12.

[0026] As can be seen in Fig. 5, the device 10 also includes two similar energy conversion devices 26a, 26b for converting the rotational energy of the head into electrical energy, the first located where the head 12 meets the base 14, i.e., approximately one-third of the way down the height of the device, and the second located at the lowest point of the receptacle 16. Although two energy conversion devices are shown, it will be understood that in other embodiments only one or the other may be present. It will also be understood that more than two devices 26 may be provided.

[0027] 6a and 6b show close-up views of the top energy conversion device 26a mounted at a location between the head 12 and the base 14 and includes a rotor and stator pair that rotate relative to one another. The rotor / stator pair includes a multi-layer coil that rotates within a magnetic field to generate electricity.

[0028] In Figure 6a, the stator 28 is formed of multi-layer coils 34a, 34b (Figure 9), while the rotor 30 is formed of a pair of discs 32a, 32b (Figure 7) with permanent magnets disposed thereon to create a static magnetic field therebetween.

[0029] FIG. 6b shows the opposite configuration, where the stator 28 is formed by a pair of disks 32a, 32b (FIG. 7) having permanent magnets disposed thereon, and the rotor 30 is formed by multi-layer coils 34a, 34b (FIG. 9).

[0030] Although alternative constructions are possible, it is preferred to use magnetic disks 32a, 32b as the stators to reduce rotating weight.

[0031] To generate a magnetic field in the space between the disks 32a, 32b, the outer and inner disks 32a, 32b have disposed or embedded on their facing surfaces a plurality of permanent magnets 36. The magnets 36 are disposed around the periphery of each disk and mounted on an annular magnetic yoke 38. The magnets 36 are oriented so that the magnetic axis of each magnet 36 is approximately perpendicular to the surface of the disk.

[0032] The permanent magnets 36 are preferably formed from a material with a higher remanence, such as NdFeB N52 (Neodymium Iron Boron), which has a remanence of 1.43 T and a relative permeability of 1.05.

[0033] The yoke 38 is provided to reduce reluctance torque and flux leakage and improve the flux density in the air gap. The yoke 38 is preferably made of a soft magnetic material. Examples of suitable materials include Permalloy 1J85, Permalloy 1J50, magnetic pure iron, and Ferrocobalt 1J22 to achieve high saturation flux density to reduce the yoke volume and high permeability to reduce flux leakage.

[0034] The magnets 36 are oriented such that adjacent magnets are staggered, i.e., the magnetic axes of adjacent magnets on each disk are staggered. With reference to Figures 7a and 7b, it can be seen that a magnet with a visible north pole is positioned next to a magnet with its opposite pole, i.e., a visible south pole.

[0035] The disks 32a, 32b are also arranged such that when secured together, the magnets facing each other on the spaced apart disks 32a, 32b are arranged in opposite orientation. This can be seen in Figure 11, which shows the arrangement of Figures 6a and 6b, with a permanent magnet 36 with an outer north pole positioned opposite a permanent magnet 36 with an outer south pole on the upper disk 32a. This creates magnetic flux lines 60, as shown in Figure 11, which pass a magnetic field through the air gap 40, and relative motion between the disks 32a, 32b and the coil 34 causes the coil 34 to pass through the magnetic field 60, generating a current in the coil 34. With this arrangement, rotation of the head 12 relative to the base 14 generates electricity.

[0036] The inventors believe that by constructing the outer and inner disks 32a, 32b with permanent magnets as disclosed herein, it is possible to establish a static magnetic field between the disks 32a, 32b, i.e., a static magnetic field that directly crosses the air gap 40, as shown in Figure 11. This static magnetic field is expected to reduce reluctance torque, allowing power generation with minimal reluctance during rotation of the head 12 relative to the base 14. With this arrangement, the static magnetic field is also expected to reduce hysteresis and eddy current losses, thereby significantly improving power generation performance.

[0037] Figures 9a and 9b show multi-layer coils 34a, 34b which form the stator 28 of Figure 6a and the rotor 30 of Figure 6b.

[0038] Each annular board 34a, 34b has a number of generally helical windings 42 (FIG. 10) disposed about its periphery. The two boards 34a, 34b of a pair are connected in series, with the coils 42 of each being connected by connectors that extend through upper and lower holes in the center of the coils. An internal connector point 37 is fixed to the base of board 34a.

[0039] Each annular board 34a, 34b is manufactured by printed circuit board (PCB) technology and is made of a non-magnetic material with copper for the wires. The substrate is preferably glass-bonded mica, which has a relatively high permittivity (dielectric constant) of 6.3 to 9.3. The importance of this material is that it absorbs the resultant magnetic field that is generated when a current is generated in the coil structure as it moves through a magnetic field. This material provides the capacitance required to reduce the magnetic torque generated in a standard coil winding, which is determined according to Lenz's law. Compared to coils manufactured by traditional filament winding methods, PCB-based multi-layer coils integrate the coil and substrate in an integrated thin structure, resulting in a thinner air gap thickness and a higher air gap flux density, and therefore improved output performance.

[0040] The number, configuration, and overall design of the coil structures are important to maximize the effect of magnetic flux and output voltage on rotational speed. Although shown with a single board pair 34a, 34b, it will be understood that multiple board pairs may be provided. To minimize space, multiple boards may be provided as a multi-layer PCB, and the boards may be connected in series or parallel depending on the output required.

[0041] 10b, in one embodiment, the coil 40 is formed with thicker and thinner sections and is arranged such that the magnetic flux generated by the magnet is incident only on the thinner sections. In this regard, the thin sections 41 of the coil extend generally radially on the board 42, while the thicker sections 43, although fitted around the periphery of the board 42, extend generally circumferentially.

[0042] 12, the base of the receptacle 16 may further include an energy conversion device 26b. The energy conversion device 26b is constructed similarly to device 26a and includes a pair of magnetic disks 50a, 50b with a multi-layer coil 52 rotating therebetween.

[0043] Device 26b is mounted on a spindle 54 that is coupled to the base of receptacle 16 and rotatably supported via bearings 56. Although device 26b is shown having a coil 52 that rotates on spindle 54, in alternative embodiments, magnetic disks 50a, 50b may rotate on spindle 54.

[0044] As shown in Figure 12, each magnetic disk 50a includes a plurality of permanent magnets 36 arranged on a magnetic yoke 38 such that adjacent magnets have alternating magnetic axes. Similarly, Figure 13 shows a coil 52a having a plurality of helical shaped windings 53 arranged therearound.

[0045] 15 shows a power generation system including device 10, a battery 64, and an internal electronic system 62 for connecting the device to battery 64. In use, device 10 generates electricity from wind, solar and thermal energy to charge battery 64. Battery 64 can be connected to the power circuit of a home or other structure and generate electricity independently of the grid.

[0046] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0047] Throughout this specification and the claims that follow, unless the context otherwise requires, the word "comprise" and its variations "comprises" and "comprising" are understood to mean the inclusion of a stated integer, step, or group of integers or steps, but not to exclude other integers, steps, or groups of integers or steps.

[0048] Reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived therefrom) or known matter is not, and should not be construed as, an acknowledgement, admission, or in any manner suggesting that the prior publication (or information derived therefrom) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavor to which this specification pertains.

Claims

1. A ventilation device for generating electricity, comprising a head and a base, the rotation of the head relative to the base generating electricity, the head comprising: a receptacle in which a solar cell is disposed; and a plurality of blades disposed about the periphery of the head to rotate the head in response to airflow around and / or over the head.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle has a generally conical configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the blades are disposed about the periphery of the conical structure.

4. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a convex lens, a Fresnel lens, or a combination thereof, disposed on top of the receptacle to concentrate sunlight onto the solar cell.

5. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solar cell is configured to output electricity while producing heat as a by-product.

6. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the receptacle has a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings through which heat can escape.

7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the openings are positioned such that air exiting the openings is directed at the blades, thereby causing rotation of the head.

8. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one energy conversion device for converting rotational energy of the head into electrical energy.

9. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the energy conversion device includes at least one stator coil and rotor pair disposed at a junction of the head and the base, or within the base near a bottom section of a conical structure, or both.

10. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the rotor is fixed to a rotating head and includes a pair of spaced apart disks, each disk having a plurality of permanent magnets disposed about its periphery, the magnetic axis of each permanent magnet being substantially perpendicular to a surface of the disk, the magnetic axes of adjacent permanent magnets on each disk alternate in orientation, and the orientations of opposing permanent magnets on the spaced apart disks are oppositely oriented.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the permanent magnet is mounted on an annular magnetic yoke.

12. 12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the stator coil is formed from at least one annular board having a plurality of generally helical shaped windings disposed therearound, each winding being connected in series.

13. 13. A power generation system comprising: an apparatus as described in any one of claims 1 to 12 mounted on the roof of a building and in fluid communication with a space below the roof; a battery; and an electrical circuit connecting the apparatus and the battery, wherein electricity is generated for charging the battery by use of the apparatus.

14. 1. A method of harvesting energy from multiple sources to generate electrical energy, comprising: Providing a device according to any one of claims 1 to 12; installing said apparatus on a roof of a building in communication with a space below the roof; connecting the device to a battery via an electrical circuit; said device rotating in response to an airflow entering said device due to at least one of wind and heat escaping from under said roof; and sunlight incident on the device; generating electricity by at least one of the following: storing the generated electrical energy in the battery; 23. A method for harvesting energy from multiple sources to generate electrical energy, comprising:

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