Support structure for a hybrid wind and solar electric generator

Abstract

The field of the technique of the following invention is that of wind and photovoltaic alternative energies. Normally these two solutions involve photovoltaic panels and turbines which are functionally distinct from each other and that also occupy different spaces. This invention proposes a unique support structure that allows the simultaneous use of a solar tracker and one or more turbines. The result is a hybrid device with all the equipment mounted on board that is simple to install.

Description

[0001] Title: Support structure for a hybrid wind and solar electric generator

[0002] State of the art

[0003] The field of the technique of the following invention is that of alternative wind and photovoltaic energies. Normally these two solutions include photovoltaic panels and turbines that are functionally distinct from each other and also occupy different spaces and for both solutions an installation phase is foreseen. In this invention a unique support structure is proposed that allows the simultaneous use of a solar tracker and one or more turbines without any on-site installation. In fact, this structure allows all the components to be mounted on board, thus obtaining a compact device that does not require work in the field but only support on the ground. This solution is very versatile in fact the height of the pillars is variable and this allows to also respect any limits imposed by the local authorities to reduce the visual impact. Furthermore, this structure can be used in both civil and industrial settlements. The state of the art closest to the following invention is given by patents CN103444674A and CN205682081U which describe a hybrid solar and wind system, in which however the turbine is placed high up on a pole and the photovoltaic panel is placed below on the same support pole.

[0004] Description

[0005] The structure( Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) consists of a pole 1) that supports a wind turbine 2) at the top, while the base is fixed on the table 3) rotating in a horizontal plane, by means of a reduction motor 4) that regulates the azimuth coordinate during the day with respect to the position of the sun. A flat structure 5) supports the photovoltaic panels 6) and is fixed to the rotating table 3) by means of the hinge 7). One or more pistons 8) allow the inclination of the plane 5) and of the panels 6) with respect to the table 3) and regulate the tilt coordinate with respect to the position of the sun. The complex of these motions creates a two-axis tracker. The frame 5) which supports the photovoltaic panels 6) is made (Fig. 2 , Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) in such a way that the central area has a space 9) free from panels. The pole 1) passes through this area and its shadow falls in this area with respect to the position of the sun. In fact, thanks to the two-axis tracker, the panels are always oriented normally to the direction of the sun and, therefore, the shadow of the pole and the turbine always fall in the space 9) (Fig. 7) . The structures described above, i.e. pole 1) and turbine 2), rotating table 3), plane 5) with the photovoltaic panels 6) are connected to the upper flange of the gear motor 4), while the base of the latter is fixed to the scaffolding 10) which can be closed at the top like a roof. On the lower part of the roof 10) one or more flanges 11) are fixed to which one or more wind turbines 12) can be connected with the axis oriented downwards. The roof 10) is equipped with one or more pillars 13) (Fig. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) , placed around the perimeter of it so as not to cross the underlying volume which is free from any obstacle to the passage of the wind. The pillars 13) unload their weight and that of the structures above onto a box base 14) which contains the batteries, the inverter, the charge regulator, the electrical panels etc., and can also contain any ballast necessary to support the structure on the roof of a building. On the upper part of the box base 14) there are one or more flanges 15) which support one or more turbines 16) with axis oriented upwards. Where there are urban planning reasons for installing this structure on the roof of a building, it is possible to reduce the height of the structure ( Fig. 5 and Fig. 6) by eliminating the pillars 13) and the turbines 12) and 16).

[0006] In this way the structure is reduced to a pole 1), turbine 2), solar tracker consisting of components 3), 4), 5), 6) and box base 14). If necessary, an eyelet 17) can be installed (Fig. 8) on the upper flange of the pole 1) which allows the entire structure and the pre-assembled equipment to be lifted with the hook 18) and the cable 19) of a crane.

[0007] Advantages

[0008] The advantages of this invention are many, in fact it:

[0009] - allows to set up a compact solar and wind hybrid generator that can be placed on the roof of a building without any installation in the field;

[0010] - allows the use of the solar tracker also on the roof of a building. In fact, normally solar trackers are placed on the ground, because they require a foundation for their support. In this case, however, it is sufficient to place the structure on the roof of the building; if necessary, the box base can also be ballasted;

[0011] - the structure can be lifted by a crane using the eyelet provided on the pole;

[0012] - the possibility of using a solar tracker and one or more wind turbines at the same time, with the same overall surface area, increases the electrical energy produced;

[0013] - the pole placed above the rotating table allows to install turbines with blades of diameter equal to the width of the tracker at the maximum height of 10 meters foreseen for the mini wind turbine.

Claims

ClaimsClaim 1) Support structure for a hybrid wind and solar electric generator characterized by a pole 1) which can support a wind turbine 2) and has the base connected to a horizontally rotating table 3) which regulates the azimuth, by means of a gear motor 4) ; a second floor 5) which carries the photovoltaic panels 6), equipped with a hinge 7) located on the floor 3); one or more pistons 8) which regulate the tilt ; this surface 5) is made in such a way as to leave a space 9) between the rows of panels 6) to allow the pole 1) and its shadow to pass with respect to the sun; a scaffold 10) raised above the ground, possibly closed like a roof which, above, supports the gear motor 4), the rotary table 3), the plan 5) and the pole; one or more flanges 11) placed under the scaffolding 10) to which one or more wind turbines 12) can be attached with the axes oriented downwards; one or more pillars 13) placed around the perimeter of the scaffolding surface 10) and which do not cross the underlying volume which has no lateral surfaces; these pillars unload the weight of the structure onto a box base 14) resting on the ground which contains batteries, electrical equipment and ballast; on the upper part of the box base there are one or more flanges 15) to which one or more wind turbines 16) can be connected with the axes oriented upwards; an eyelet 17) mounted on the top of the pole 1) which allows the lifting of the entire structure with all the equipment on board;Claim 2) Support structure for a hybrid wind and solar electric generator as in claim 1) characterized by a pole 1) which can support a wind turbine 2) and has the base connected to a horizontally rotating plane 3) which regulates the azimuth, by means of a gear motor 4) ;Claim 3) Support structure for a hybrid wind and solar electric generator as per the previous claims characterized by a second plane 5) which carries the photovoltaic panels 6), equipped with a hinge 7) placed on the plane 3); one or more pistons 8) which regulate the tilt inclination; this surface 5) is made in such a way as to leave a space 9) between the rows of panels 6) to allow the pole 1) and its shadow to pass with respect to the sun;Claim 4) Support structure for a hybrid wind and solar electric generator as per the previous claims characterized by a scaffold 10) raised above the ground, possibly closed like a roof which, above, supports the gear motor 4);Claim 5) Support structure for a hybrid wind and solar electric generator as per the previous claims characterized by one or more flanges 11) placed under the scaffolding 10) to which one or more wind turbines 12) can be attached with the axes oriented downwards ;Claim 6) Support structure for a hybrid wind and solar electric generator as per the previous claims characterized by one or more pillars 13) placed around the perimeter of the scaffolding surface 10) and which do not cross the underlying volume which has no lateral surfaces;Claim 7) Support structure for a hybrid wind and solar electric generator as per the previous claims characterized by a box base 14) resting on the ground which contains batteries, electrical equipment and ballast and on which the pillars 13) unload the weight of the structures above;Claim 8) Support structure for a hybrid wind and solar electric generator as per the previous claims characterized by one or more flanges 15) placed above the box base 14) to which one or more wind turbines 16) can be connected with the axes oriented towards the 'high;Claim 9) Support structure for a hybrid wind and solar electric generator as per the previous claims characterized by an eyelet 17) mounted on the upper part of the pole 1) which allows the lifting of the entire structure with all the equipment on board;

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