Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
  • H02S30/00—Structural details of PV modules other than those related to light conversion
  • H02S30/20—Collapsible or foldable PV modules
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02J—ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
  • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
  • H02J7/34—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering
  • H02J7/35—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering with light sensitive cells
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
  • H02S40/00—Components or accessories in combination with PV modules, not provided for in groups H02S10/00 - H02S30/00
  • H02S40/30—Electrical components
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
  • Y02E10/56—Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a portable recharger apparatus for recharging electric and electronic devices.
• portable photovoltaic systems are known in particular, provided with small photovoltaic panels, in some cases joined together by flexible or foldable joints so as to be at least partially folded over one another.
• the systems currently available also generally have the drawback of inadequate temporal stability of the power supply.
• the available systems do not allow the necessary power to be supplied in any condition (for example hooked to a backpack) and continuously, because the instantaneous power supplied by a photovoltaic panel is highly variable over time.
• Some electronic devices are critically affected by unstable power supply over time and their performance, especially battery life, may degrade as a result.
• Other appliances are provided with an automatic safety lock system which in the presence of power surges deactivates the charge, which may then be reactivated only with a manual intervention by the user (who may not even notice the blocking occurred and would therefore find himself/herself with the appliance out of power). For these reasons, the photovoltaic power should be stabilized over time.
• a further drawback can derive from the dimensions of the photovoltaic systems, which in order to be portable are provided with small panels; since the power that can be generated by a photovoltaic panel is proportional to its active area, very small dimensions imply a low power available.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a portable recharger apparatus for electric/electronic devices which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art highlighted above.
• an object of the invention is to provide a recharger apparatus which is simple and cost- effective to be manufactured, as well as fully efficient, reliable and durable.
• a further object of the invention is to provide a recharger apparatus which is truly portable (and therefore having dimensions and weight such as to be easily transportable by a user) but at the same time fully efficient, being able to supply adequate power to the use, even in less than ideal weather conditions and ensuring adequate temporal stability of the power supply, without using batteries.
• the present invention therefore relates to a portable recharger apparatus for electric/electronic devices as essentially defined in the appended claim 1 and, for preferred aspects thereof, in the dependent claims.
• the recharger apparatus of the invention is simple and cost-effective to be manufactured, as well as fully efficient, reliable and durable in use.
• the recharger apparatus of the invention may be implemented with dimensions and weight such as to be easily transportable, but also being fully efficient and capable of supplying adequate power for use, even in non-ideal weather conditions, ensuring an adequate temporal stability of the power supply, without using batteries and thus avoiding all the problems associated with the use of batteries.
• Figure 1 is a schematic view of a portable recharger apparatus for electric/electronic devices according to the invention
• - Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of a component of the apparatus of Figure 1, in particular a photovoltaic panel, shown in the configuration for use;
• Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the component of Figure 2 according to a possible variant
• FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a detail of the panel of Figure 2 or Figure 3;
• FIG. 5 is a schematic lateral elevation view of the photovoltaic panel of Figure 2, shown in a packet- folded configuration
• FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an electric circuit of the apparatus of Figure 1.
• reference numeral 1 indicates a portable recharger apparatus for electric and electronic devices (telephones, tablets, laptops, cameras, small household appliances, etc.).
• the apparatus 1 comprises a photovoltaic panel 2, formed by a plurality of photovoltaic cells 3; and an operation unit 4 housed in a box 5 and connected to the panel 2.
• the panel 2 is formed by a plurality of photovoltaic cells 3 electrically connected to one another and mechanically joined to one another by joints 6 defining respective folding lines 7, so that the panel 2 is foldable according to a predetermined folding pattern 8 described below.
• the cells 3 are in particular flexible cells.
• a flexible cell is a photovoltaic cell having a thin active layer applied to a flexible substrate, the active layer being sufficiently thin so that the cell as a whole is flexible, that is, it may be bent in an arc.
• the cells 3 are so-called thin-film cells, for example monocrystalline Si, CIGS, CdTe, CuSbSe2 or Sb2Se3 cells.
• the cells 3 are of such dimensions and number as to be able to supply a predetermined nominal power.
• the nominal power of panel 2 (deriving from cells 3) is overestimated with respect to the power to be supplied: taking into account the decrease in efficiency of the photovoltaic panels in a real environment due to the temperature, the imperfect azimuth alignment and the always variable conditions of cloudiness, the nominal power of the panel is at least twice the power expected to be needed in use. For example, if 20 W are required, for example to recharge 4 smartphones that are 5 W each at the same time, a panel with a nominal power of at least 40 Wp is prepared.
• the cells 3 are arranged side by side in two or more rows and are spaced one from the other.
• the cells 3 may however be organized according to different schemes to form the panel 2.
• Figures 2 and 3 show two examples of configuration of the panel 2, formed by 12 differently organized cells 3.
• the cells 3 may be connected in various ways; in preferred embodiments (but not necessarily), the cells 3 are connected to supply a maximum power voltage to an electric circuit connected to the panel 2 between 8.1 V and 9.0 V, or between 15.0 and 18.0 V.
• 12 13x13 cm monocrystalline Si cells connected in series may be used to supply a voltage of 8.1 V
• 24 m-Si half-cells connected in series may be used to supply a voltage of 16.2 V.
• each cell 3 is electrically connected to each other in series by a plurality of flexible conductive tapes 10 which connect respective pairs of adjacent cells 3.
• the tapes 10 are tin-coated tapes or indium-tin tapes, soldered directly on respective contacts of the cells 3.
• each cell 3 has an active front face 11 and a rear face 12, opposite to the active face 11.
• the panel 2 then has a pair of electrodes 14, arranged for example at opposite ends of the panel 2 on respective cells 3 and precisely on the rear faces 12 thereof; the electrodes 14 are connected, for example by respective cables 15, to the operation unit 4.
• the cells 3 are plastic- coated, i.e. they are provided with a sealed wrapping 20 ( Figure 4) made of a polymer material encapsulating the cells 3.
• the cells 3 are coated with respective sheets 21 of polymer material covering the opposite faces 11, 12 of the cells 3 and projecting beyond respective lateral edges of the cells 3, where the sheets 21 are sealed to form the sealed wrapping 20 enveloping the cells 3.
• the cells 3 are separated from each other by a network of bands 22 defined by respective portions of the wrapping 20.
• the plastic-coating of the cells 3 is carried out by means of a hot lamination process, in particular by using lamination pouches, without vacuum.
• all the cells 3 are encapsulated in a single wrapping 20, thus using a single lamination pouch for the plastic-coating process of such dimensions as to contain all the cells 3.
• the cells 3 may be plastic-coated individually or in groups and then be joined together to form the panel 2.
• the panel 2 is formed by a set of cells 3 enclosed in a single common wrapping 20, which encloses all the cells 3 of the panel 2 and also the electric connections between the cells 3, i.e. the conductive tapes 10.
• the joints 6 defining the folding lines 7 are also internal to the panel 2, being formed on the bands 22 of the wrapping 20.
• the panel 2 has no openings for the connection between the cells 3, but only the electrodes 14 for connection to the operation unit 4; the panel 2 is therefore entirely sealed with the exception of the electrodes 14.
• laminating pouches usually used for laminating documents by means of roller laminating machines may be used.
• these pouches are made of a transparent polymer material and are provided with an internal adhesive layer which can be activated by heat, in particular due to the effect of the heat provided by the preheated rollers of a laminating machine.
• two-layer laminating pouches are used, having an internal layer in EVA and an external layer in PET, optionally colored for aesthetic needs.
• laminating pouches comprising protective components capable of avoiding the chemical-physical adsorption of atmospheric agents which may degrade the photovoltaic cells (such as humidity).
• the laminating process may be performed using a commercial hot laminating machine, requiring no vacuum techniques for lamination.
• the laminating pouch with the cells 3 inside is passed between the rollers of the laminating machine, so that the adhesive present on the internal surfaces of the laminating pouch adheres to the opposite faces 11, 12 of each cell 3.
• the two electrodes 14 are contacted: the electrodes 14 are in particular placed on respective rear faces 12 (opposite to the active faces 11) of the first cell and of the last cell connected in series; the plastic- coated region above each electrode 14 is perforated, for example, mechanically or by selective chemical agents (for example, if the wrapping is made of PET, using NaOH) which create cavities in the wrapping 20; a conductive paint
• a conductive wire is welded over the dried conductive paint; alternatively, a disposable electrode is attached, for example suction-cup or self-adhesive.
• the panel 2 thus obtained is shaped by hot folding along the folding lines 7, which are defined along the bands 22 between one cell 3 and another to form the folding pattern 8.
• the folding pattern 8 may be configured in various ways: two configuration examples are illustrated by way of example in Figures 2 and 3. Some bands 22 may include, together with the respective folding lines 7, cuts 23, aligned with the folding lines 7 and which separate the adjacent cells 3.
• folding lines 7 may be defined by respective cuts 23, the cells 3 being joined to one another by the tapes 10.
• the folding pattern 8 is configured in such a way that the panel 2 may be folded on itself in the manner of a map, i.e. overlapping the cells 3 to one another until they are all stacked one above the other to form a pack 24 of superimposed cells 3 (Figure 5), so that the folded panel 2 (i.e. the pack 24) substantially occupies only the area of a single cell 3; and so that the two end cells 3 having the electrodes 14 are on opposite faces of the pack 24.
• the operation unit 4 comprises a control and operating circuit 25 housed in the box 5.
• the box 5 is preferably made of an electrically insulating and waterproofed material such as wood, plastics, metal or other, and has such dimensions and weight as to be portable (for example, maximum dimensions of 20x20x7 cm and maximum weight of 200 g).
• the circuit 25 comprises a pair of connectors 26, located for example on a wall of the box 5 or accessible through it and connected to the cables 15; one or more recharge outputs 27 located on the box 5 (for example on a wall of the box 5); and a group of capacitors 28, housed inside the box 5 and connected to the outputs 27.
• the apparatus 1 is provided with one or more USB sockets (for example, 4 USB sockets), associated with respective 29 DC- DC step-down devices (for example capable of reducing the voltage from 16 V to 5 V), and a cigarette lighter socket for powering 12 V devices.
• USB sockets for example, 4 USB sockets
• 29 DC- DC step-down devices for example capable of reducing the voltage from 16 V to 5 V
• cigarette lighter socket for powering 12 V devices.
• the capacitors 28 are in particular super-capacitors, each having a capacity ranging for example between 500 F and 3400 F and voltage ranging between 2.7 V and 3.0 V.
• the capacitors 28 may be present in various numbers and may be connected in different ways. For example, if panel 2 is designed to provide maximum voltages of 8 V, 6 capacitors may be used, connected to form a first battery of three capacitors in series, and two batteries connected to one another in parallel, so as to give a maximum charge voltage power from 8.1 V to 9.0 V. If panel 2 has been designed to give maximum power voltages from 16.2 V to 18.0 V, the 6 capacitors are placed in series with one another, so as to withstand a maximum charge voltage of 16.2V or 18.0V.
• a protection diode 30, in particular a Schottky diode, is placed between the connector 26 connected to the positive electrode 14 of the panel 2 and a positive pole of the group of capacitors 28, so as to block the discharge eddy currents from the capacitors 28 to the panel 2.
• a DC-DC step-down device 31 which limits the charge of the capacitors 28 to their maximum voltage (for example, from 8.1 V to 9.0 V, or from 15.2 V to 18.0 V depending on the version).
• a voltmeter is placed in parallel to the group of capacitors 28 to instantly read the voltage across the capacitors 28, returning on a display a percentage charge value of between 1% (equal to 4.8 V) and 100% (equal to the open circuit voltage of the panel 2).
• the apparatus 1 is easily transported with the panel 2 folded to form the pack 24.
• the panel 2 is deployed and connected to operation unit 4.
• the devices to be recharged may then be connected to an output 27.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)
• Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=69570717

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2019
  • 2019-09-27 IT IT102019000017396A patent/IT201900017396A1/it unknown
• 2020
  • 2020-09-25 EP EP20797170.6A patent/EP4035262A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2020-09-25 WO PCT/IB2020/059000 patent/WO2021059230A1/en not_active Ceased

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