Solar Power and Storage Layout for Reliable Building Lighting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial buildings face significant energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions due to high energy use, necessitating effective on-site power generation and consumption management.
Innovation Solution
Systems and methods for generating and distributing power using energy-producing equipment like solar modules, connected to racking systems and inverters, with energy control and storage devices to balance and conserve energy, and distribute excess energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If commercial buildings purchase energy from utilities, then energy supply is reliable, but energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions are high
Solution Approach 1:
The energy system is segmented into multiple independent components: solar modules for power generation, energy storage devices for conservation, and energy consuming devices for utilization. This segmentation allows the building to generate its own energy independently, reducing dependence on external utilities and lowering energy costs while maintaining supply reliability through on-site generation and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The commercial building is equipped with solar modules that enable it to generate its own energy autonomously. The energy storage devices further enhance self-sufficiency by storing excess energy for later use. This self-service capability eliminates the need to purchase energy from external utilities, directly addressing the contradiction between reducing energy costs and maintaining reliable supply.
2Loss of energy
If solar modules are installed to generate power, then energy costs are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy control device performs multiple functions: it controls the solar modules for power generation, manages the energy storage devices for conservation, and regulates the energy consuming devices for utilization. It also balances energy production with consumption and distributes excess energy. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise be separate complex systems into a single integrated device, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to reduce energy costs.
3Loss of energy
If energy storage devices are used to balance energy, then energy conservation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage devices are merged with the solar modules and energy consuming devices into an integrated energy management system. The energy control device coordinates all components, combining power generation, storage, and consumption management into a unified system. This merging approach improves energy conservation by efficiently balancing supply and demand while avoiding the complexity of separate, uncoordinated systems.
4Productivity
If excess energy is distributed to other storage devices, then energy utilization is optimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy control device implements feedback mechanisms to monitor energy production from solar modules, storage status of energy storage devices, and consumption patterns of energy consuming devices. Based on this real-time feedback, the system automatically balances energy distribution and directs excess energy to appropriate storage devices or consumption points. This feedback-driven approach optimizes energy utilization efficiency while keeping the distribution system manageable through automated control rather than complex manual coordination.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions by efficiently generating and managing power on-site, utilizing underutilized real property for energy production, and optimizing energy distribution to meet building demands.
Implementation Method 1
a solar module... receiving from the solar module by the inverter a direct current
Implementation Method 2
a direct current to alternating current inverter... converting it to alternating current
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for generating and conserving power for illuminating a space including obtaining energy producing equipment further including a racking system, a direct current to alternating current inverter, a solar module, a light source and connecting the solar module to the racking system, connecting the direct current to alternating current inverter to the solar module, connecting the light source to the solar module through the direct current to alternating current inverter, receiving from the solar module by the inverter a direct current and converting it to alternating current, and causing by the alternating current the light source to visually illuminate the space.