GB2488800A

GB2488800A - Fluid heating system having an immersion heater that may be powered by a renewable energy source

Info

Publication number: GB2488800A
Application number: GB1103957.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Madin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-09
Filing date: 2011-03-09
Publication date: 2012-09-12
Also published as: GB201103957D0

Abstract

The fluid heating system comprises a fluid storage tank 14 having an immersion heater 15 associated therewith, and at least one renewable energy source 2 electrically connectable to the heater via a switch 11, the switch being additionally connected to a sensor 13, wherein, in use, the at least one renewable energy source provides a source of renewable electrical power, and the switch selectively directs the renewable power to the heater based upon a measurement provided by the sensor. The renewable energy source and sensor may be a photovoltaic panel and light sensor respectively, wherein the switch directs the renewable power to the heater when light detected by the sensor reaches or is above a predetermined threshold value. The renewable power from the panel may be passed via DC 4 and AC 6 isolation switches, a DC to AC inverter 5, a fuse board 7 and a transformer 12. The renewable power from the panel may also be sent to sockets around a property via a distribution network 8, with excess power being sent to a mains grid 10 via a meter and master switch 9. The heater may be connected to one of two sockets 17,18 by a plug 16, wherein one of the two sockets (18) draws power from the mains grid.

Description

I

HEATiNG SYSTEM This invention describes a heating system utilising a renewable energy conversion device in combination with an energy measurement device to control a switch to divert the converted energy through an electrical transformer directly to provide electrical power to an electrical circuit. The switch may be set according to the prevailing conditions of the renewable energy source.

Firstly it is known to capture solar energy using a solar panel as the energy input device which converts the energy of the sun directly into electrical power.

The said input device is preferably based upon the use of an array of photovoltaic cells connected together.

it is also known to capture energy from wind through the use of a wind turbine wherein a flow of air causes a rotor attached to a shaft or spindle to revolve and, through attachment of the rotating shaft to a device such as a dynamo or alternator to provide energy in the form of electricity.

lt is further known to capture energy from the movement of water under gravity through the use of a water turbine where the flow of water causes a rotor attached to a shaft or spindle revolve and, through attachment to a device such as a dynamo or alternator provide energy in the form of electricity.

in particular the invention is applicable to water heating systems whereby the electrical circuit comprises a heating element immersed in a tank unit containing water the said electrical circuit being fed using alternating current electricity. It is also applicable to systems fed by direct current.

This invention is specifically arranged to to govern the amount of energy applied to a water immersion heating coil according to the prevailing conditions of sun or wind or water flow. As the quantity of energy available to be captured varies seasonally and with atmospheric and weather conditions, systems making use of such energy sources are generally provided in addition to, rather than as alternatives to a mains electricity supply.

One stimulus for such arrangements is the provision of incentive payments by the electricity supply companies in many countries for electricity which is generated by an arrangement of one of the types described. Such arrangements are variously described as feed-in tariffs and generally comprise a generation tariff payment, which is based on the total electricity generated and the energy type and an export tariff payment, which is for any excess energy over that which is used for domestic or commercial purpose. This excess electricity is fed out from the consumer unit fuse board, through the meter and main fuse to the electricity grid. A fee may also be paid for this even if the consumer doesn't have a smart meter. This additional payment is based upon the units generated.

The particular application of the current invention is to a domestic immersion heating system, the electrical supply of which is provided from both mains and renewable sources. Specifically the arrangement as described relates to the renewable source being a photovoltaic solar panel array. The arrangement is further described as applied but not limited to domestic immersion heating systems with elements of typically 2.5 kilowatts to 3 kilowatts.

A disadvantage of existing systems is that the power output from the renewable energy device in average conditions may be insufficient to cause the immersion heating coil to heat up and therefore the benefit of the additional payment is lost.

According to the present invention and with reference to Diagram I there is provided a photovoltaic cellular array (2) to receive light energy (I) and providing output DC current (3) through a DC isolation switch (4) to a DC to AC inverter (5).

The output from the inverter (5) is fed through the AC isolation switch to the domestic or commercial consumer unit with fuse board (7) and thence via the wired distribution network (8) to sockets and switch units around the property.

Excess electrical output over that used in the distribution network (8) is fed through the meter and master switch unit (9) to the grid (10) In order to benefit from lower levels of solar energy which would not be able to activate the immersion coil (15) of the water tank (14) with the standard supply there is placed in the circuit and additional switch (11) which may be adjusted to close when the light level recorded by the light sensor (13) reaches a level which can be preset with the adjustable switch (11). Upon closure of the adjustable switch (11) the energy from the photovoltaic cellular array (2) is fed to the transformer (12) which steps the voltage in order to provide sufficient amperage to operate the immersion heating coil from the energy supplied from the photovoltaic cellular array (2) at a preset level of illumination (1).

in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the photovoltaic cellular array (2) is assembled to give a maximum output power of 3.9 kilowatts in full sunlight friOO,000 lux) and the additional switch (11) is set to a lux threshold level of 25000 (full daylight, partial sunlight). At this lux level, the said preferred emodiment will produce 1,000 watts to the transformer for sufficient time to operate the immersion coil to heat the water tank to a useful temperature.

A further element in the system as shown in diagram 2 may be incorporated which allows access to the standard voltage house circuit where required. This may be provided through a manual plug (16). In normal operation the plug is plugged into socket (17) but for emergency power it may alternatively be plugged into socket (18).

Arrangements according to this invention may also be built using either a wind turbine or a water turbine with suitable input flow measurement devices instead of the photovoltaic cellular array.

Arrangements may also be built using combinations of the renewable energy conversion devices described.

A further benefit of the invention is that it uses readily available components and is not difficult to install for a competent electrical engineer.

Claims

SCLAIMS1. A heating system for operating an electrical immersion heater coil using energy output from a renewable energy electricity generator employing a sensor with an adjustable switch adjustable for the renewable energy level input from the sensor and a transformer to step the voltage for the optimum operation of immersion heater coil at a lower energy input.
2. A heating system as described in claim I where the renewable energy generator is an array of photovoltaic cells.
3. A heating system as described in claim I where the renewable energy generator is a wind driven turbine.
4. A heating system as described in claim I where the renewable energy generator is water driven turbine.
5. A heating system as described in claim 2 where the transformer steps the voltage to between 80 and 200 volts.
6. A heating system as described in claim 3 where the transformer steps the voltage to between 80 and 200 volts.
7. A heating system as described in claim 4 where the transformer steps the voltage to between 80 and 200 volts.
8. A heating system as described in claim 2 where the adjustable switch may be selectable within the range of 2,000 lux to 50,000 lux.
9. A heating system as described in claim 2 where the input to the transformer may be switched on at at settings between 2,000 lux and 50,000 lux.
10. A heating system as described in claim I where an additional socket and plug is provided for access to the said heating system.Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. A heating system that uses the variable power output from an electricity generator by causing the said power to be passed through an electrical transformer using a switch to operate automatically at a set renewable energy level signal received from an energy sensor and thence to deliver an electrical current to cause a insulated electrical coil mounted within a container containing a substance to increase in temperature and thereby to increase the temperature of the substance.2. A heating system as described in claim 1 where the insulated electrical coil 10 is a standard domestic 2KW to 8KW immersion heater.C3. A heating system as described in claim 1 where the contained substance is 0) water.C4. A heating system as described in claim 1 where the electricity generator is an array of interconnected photovoltaic cells.5. A heating system as described in claim 1 where the electricity generator is one or more wind driven turbines.6. A heating system as described in claim 1 where the electricity generator is one or more water driven turbines.7. A heating system as described in claim 4 where the transformer steps the voltage to between 0 and 230 volts.8. A heating system as described in claim 5 where the transformer steps the voltage to between 0 and 200 volts.9. A heating system as described in claim 6 where the transformer steps the voltage to between 0 and 200 volts.10. A heating system as described in claim 4 where the adjustable switch may be selectable within the range of 2,000 lux to 100,000 lux.
11. A heating system as described in claim 4 where the input to the transformer may be switched on at at settings between 2,000 lux and 100,000 lux.
12. A heating system as described in claim 1 where an additional socket and plug is provided for access to the said heating system from the main supply. C1)C13. A heating system as described in claim 1 where a switch is provided to provide access to the said heating system from the main supply.