GB2553551A

GB2553551A - Portable solar power station

Info

Publication number: GB2553551A
Application number: GB1615243.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Parker Mike; Smerdon Tim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-09-08
Filing date: 2016-09-08
Publication date: 2018-03-14
Also published as: WO2018046883A1; GB201615243D0

Abstract

A portable solar power station which comprises a support base 12 in the form of a container with a removable lid, a collapsible support frame 14 and a collapsible solar panel 16. The frame and panel, in a collapsed condition, are stored within the container and, when assembled, the frame is attached to the base, supporting the deployed panel above the base. The lid may have an aperture through which part of the frame extends and cables may run within the frame to connect the panel to components in the container, such as a battery (22, Fig. 2). The support frame may include a stanchion and a panel support section made from elongate, hollow tube sections (30, Fig. 3a). The panel may be flexible. A modular power output arrangement (25, Fig. 6) may be mounted in the side of the base in a receptacle with a closeable door. A junction box 40 may be mounted on the support frame to connect the panel to external accessories, such as lights 38 or a camera 36. The container may be a drum which is attached to the ground with a peg or screw.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Portable solar power station

Abstract Title: Portable solar power station with collapsible panel and frame (57) A portable solar power station which comprises a support base 12 in the form of a container with a removable lid, a collapsible support frame 14 and a collapsible solar panel 16. The frame and panel, in a collapsed condition, are stored within the container and, when assembled, the frame is attached to the base, supporting the deployed panel above the base. The lid may have an aperture through which part of the frame extends and cables may run within the frame to connect the panel to components in the container, such as a battery (22, Fig. 2). The support frame may include a stanchion and a panel support section made from elongate, hollow tube sections (30, Fig. 3a). The panel may be flexible. A modular power output arrangement (25, Fig. 6) may be mounted in the side of the base in a receptacle with a closeable door. A junction box 40 may be mounted on the support frame to connect the panel to external accessories, such as lights 38 or a camera 36. The container may be a drum which is attached to the ground with a peg or screw.

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At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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PORTABLE SOLAR POWER STATION

The present invention relates to a portable solar power apparatus, suitable for use as an electrical power source in remote areas.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Providing electrical power in remote areas has been a problem for a long time. Offgrid” power supplies are required by disaster relief workers, refugee camps, mobile clinics, conservation and anti-poaching projects, temporary events, and many others. The main way in which electrical power has been provided in the past to areas where a mains supply is not available is by providing petrol or diesel generators. However, generators are noisy, produce noxious fumes, and need to be regularly replenished with fuel.

Increased performance of solar panels, together with reduced power requirements for some applications (e.g. LED floodlights which draw far less power than halogen flood lights), has meant that solar panels have become an increasingly viable alternative source of off-grid power over the past few years. US2014240968 discloses a solar powered LED portable light tower, which may be used in place of diesel powered light towers. However, for providing a flexible and highly portable supply, solar still presents problems. A solar panel needs to have a large surface area to produce a good power output. It also needs a support structure to mount the solar panel and point it at a suitable angle to the sun to produce optimum power throughout the day. Preferably, the support structure should mount the solar panel some distance from the ground, so that it is not obscured by vehicles, people or animals, or made dirty and therefore less effective due to, for example, mud splashes during wet weather, or animal droppings. Solar panels at ground level could also be damaged or destroyed by vehicles or large animals.

A solar panel obviously does not generate electricity during the night, and daytime performance is affected by cloud cover. Therefore, in most applications some kind of energy storage is required for practical off-grid solar power.

Overall, a relatively large system comprising multiple components is required to provide off-grid solar power. For these reasons, it is still not preferred in many cases. It is an object of the invention to provide a solution to the above mentioned problems.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable solar power station comprising:

a support base in the form of a container with a removable lid;

a collapsible solar panel support frame; and a flexible or collapsible solar panel, the support frame in a collapsed condition and the solar panel in a storage condition being storable within the container, when closed by the lid, the support frame in an assembled condition being attachable to the support base, and the solar panel being attachable to the support frame, for deploying the solar panel above the support base.

The apparatus of the invention provides for a highly portable solar power station, which can produce electricity indefinitely, with limited maintenance and no requirement to replenish with fuel. The solar power station can be transported to a deployment location as a self-contained unit with the lid closed. When at its deployment location, is the lid is removed, and the collapsible support frame and solar panel are removed from the container. Preferably, part of the container (for example, about the bottom third) may be filled with earth, stone, or other ballast. Using a container as a support base allows locally available materials to be used in this way, to provide an extremely stable base whilst reducing the mass of the support base which needs to be transported.

As an alternative to filling with ballast, a peg or screw may be provided for fixing the container to the ground, through an aperture provided in the base of the container. This may be preferred, where possible, for short-term deployments, since the work required to fill the container with ballast and then empty it again at the end of the deployment is avoided.

The lid can then be replaced on the container, and the support frame assembled and attached to the container, preferably via the lid. In one embodiment, the lid may include an aperture, and the support frame may be attached to the lid by passing a section of the frame through the aperture, into the container. The aperture may also allow cables to run from the solar panel to devices inside the container, for example inside a hollow section of the frame.

Where an aperture is provided in the lid of the drum, a clamping device may be provided around the aperture. For example, a simple clamping device may include a length of tube, with slightly larger diameter than the section of the frame which fits through the aperture, and a screw through an aperture in the side of the tube, so that the section of frame can be passed through the tube and the screw then tightened to prevent movement.

Preferably, the solar panel support frame includes a stanchion and a panel support, the stanchion being the part of the support frame which attaches to the container, to hold the panel support at height above the container in use.

In a preferred embodiment, the panel support is made from elongate spars. The spars may be joined together in substantially an TT shape, to support a substantially planar solar panel. T pieces which can be tightened with screws may be used to assemble the spars into the appropriate shape.

Preferably, the stanchion is telescopic so that it can be extended in use to support the solar panel at height above the container. The Ή’ shaped panel support can be provided at the top of the stanchion, to support the panel.

Preferably, the solar panel is flexible. This allows it to be rolled up for storage inside the container, and then unrolled for deployment. A flexible panel allows a large surface area to be achieved in use, for good power output, but also allows compact and light storage, within the container. Another advantage of the flexible panel is that the support frame may be made from lightweight spars, for example aluminium tubes, since the mass of the solar panel is small. As an alternative, a collapsible solar panel may be provided in the form of an array of smaller panels, joined together. The array may be folded up to store inside the can, and unfolded to deploy on the support frame for use.

An example of a suitable flexible solar panel may have a maximum power output of around 180W in bright sunlight.

The solar panel may be attached to the support frame using, for example, clevis pins which pass through an aperture in the support frame and an aperture in the panel, to clip the panel to the support frame securely. Clevis pins are secure over a long period, but can easily be removed when required.

Preferably, the solar panel support frame is adjustable for moving the solar panel, to achieve the best exposure to the sun. For maximum power throughout the day, the solar panel may be moved periodically so that it points roughly towards the sun at all times. Alternatively, if the solar power station is to be left unattended, then an angle of about 30 degrees from the horizontal, facing towards the midday sun, is found to give good overall results. In potentially windy conditions, setting the solar panel in a horizontal position makes it less likely to be moved by the wind, at the expense of a slight drop in power output.

Where a telescopic stanchion is provided as part of the support frame, this is preferably adjustable to allow the solar panel to be deployed at different heights, depending on conditions. Where there is low-level shade from foliage, a higher position will achieve better power output, but a position further down will make the power station less vulnerable to wind.

Preferably, a modular power output I control arrangement may be provided in the form of a receptacle which can accept a variety of different modules. Power output devices and devices which consume power (e.g. 12V sockets, 5V chargers, WiFi routers, etc.) may be provided as part of a removable module which can be fitted into the receptacle.

Preferably the receptacle is provided on the side of the container. The removable module in some embodiments may include the charge controller. Providing all or most of the electronics in a removable module has several advantages. The output sockets and I or controls can be provided on the outside of the container in use for easy access, but when not in use can be stored safely inside the container where they are protected.

Also, if a solar charging station needs to be left temporarily out of use and unattended, but in situ, then the removable module can be removed and taken away. This is a relatively small part of the solar charging station in terms of size and weight, but its removal will prevent unauthorized use of the station. Also, depending on what devices are included, the removable module may include high-value electronics, and so removal may be useful to deter theft, leaving only the comparatively heavy and lowvalue container, frame, batteries and solar panel, which are not such an attractive target for theft.

Power input is supplied to the receptacle of the modular output arrangement from the solar panel (either directly or indirectly via batteries, controllers etc.). The receptacle can then accept a module which slots into the receptacle and connects to the power supply. For example, in one arrangement, a 240V inverter, a 12V “power bank” including an internal battery, 12V sockets and 5V USB charging sockets, and a wireless modem I router could be provided in a module. If 240V power is not required, then a different module could be provided with another 12V power bank instead of the inverter. The power banks especially are relatively lightweight and expensive parts, and so being able to remove them when the power station is left unattended is highly io desirable. In some embodiments, the receptacle may be fitted with a lockable door for preventing removal of the module inside. The modular power output arrangement allows for an extremely flexible portable electrical power system, which can be adapted with different modules to serve a variety of needs.

In one embodiment, the receptacle extends into the container, and a fixing on the back of the receptacle attaches to a lower section of the stanchion of the solar panel support frame, within the container. In this way, the stanchion of the solar panel support frame may be supported substantially centrally within the container, being fixed to the container at two points - where it passes through the aperture in the lid and also where it is attached to the back of the receptacle. In some embodiments, a fixing for the stanchion of the solar panel support frame may also be provided on the base of the container. A simple example of a suitable fixing on the base is a short length of tube protruding from the base, an external width of the protruding tube being slightly less than an internal width of a hollow socket section on a bottom end of the stanchion of the solar panel support frame. Alternatively, the protruding tube may be hollow and slightly larger than the bottom end of the stanchion of the solar panel support frame, so that it is the protruding tube fixed to the base of the container which acts as the socket.

It is preferred that the stanchion of the solar panel support frame is telescopic, but in alternative embodiments the stanchion may be of fixed length when deployed, as long as it is collapsible for storage within the container.

The solar panel support frame may additionally include attachments to support, for example, LED floodlights and CCTV cameras. In addition to physical mounting points for these devices, the solar panel support frame may be provided with a junction box so that the devices can be plugged into the power system, to draw electricity generated by the solar panel (either directly or indirectly via batteries and controllers).

In most embodiments, a charge controller and one or more batteries are provided. For example, two 12v deep cycle lead-acid batteries are found to provide good performance in many conditions. A typical embodiment will include batteries to provide a total of between around 200 and 500Ah at 12V. The lead-acid batteries may be placed inside the container, with cabling between the solar panel, batteries, charge controller and power output module passing through an aperture or apertures in the io lid of the container, preferably through the interior of the stanchion of the solar panel support frame which in turn passes through an aperture in the lid of the container.

Providing batteries allows the solar power station to supply power consistently 24 hours a day, and regardless of transient weather conditions. The batteries can charge when there is surplus power from the solar panel, and discharge when there is more demand for power than the panel can supply. This allows the solar power station to be used, for example, to provide lighting at night.

The lead-acid batteries are preferably placed in the bottom of the container, above any ballast. The batteries are heavy, and provide the container with additional stability when deployed.

The charge controller is preferably disposed substantially within the container, and may be provided with a control interface. In some embodiments, the charge controller is provided as part of the removable module, which fits into the receptacle on the side of the container.

The container may be in the form of a drum, for example, a recycled 210 litre oil drum may be suitable. The lid may be held on the drum with a sprung gasket, as is common for open top drums. For storage and transport, four drums can be stacked on a pallet, with no maintenance required during storage. Preferably, handles may be provided to ease handling during transport and deployment.

The solar power station is highly portable, with all components being contained in the container during transport. Typically, a non-specialist can assemble the charging station in around 30 minutes, depending on the exact set-up required (for example, for a long term deployment more time may be spent adding ballast for a very stable support base). Once set up, the solar power station produces power silently, with no maintenance required. With a modular power output arrangement, the solar power station is very flexible and can provide, for example, 12V DC output, 240V AC output, removable portable batteries, internet access, lighting, and CCTV.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

io Figure 1a is a plan view from the side of a portable solar power station according to the invention, with a telescopic stanchion retracted;

Figure 1 b is a plan view from the side of the portable solar power station of Figure 1 a, with the telescopic stanchion extended;

Figure 2 is a cross-section through a container which forms part of the solar power 15 station of Figures 1 a and 1 b;

Figure 3a is a plan view from the rear of a panel support with an attached solar panel, which forms part of the solar power station of Figures 1a and 1b;

Figure 3b is a perspective view of part of the solar panel support of Figure 3a, showing a clevis pin attaching the solar panel to the panel support;

Figure 4 is a plan view from the rear of the portable solar power station of Figure 1a, with accessories attached;

Figure 5 is a plan view from the side of an alternative embodiment of a portable solar power station according to the invention; and

Figure 6 is a side view of part of the portable solar power station of Figure 1 a, showing 25 the receptacle and removable power output and control module.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly to Figures 1a and 1b, a portable solar power station is indicated generally at 10. The solar power station 10 comprises a support base 12, a solar panel support frame 14 and a solar panel 16.

The support base 12 is in the form of a container, in this embodiment a steel drum. The steel drum may be a recycled oil drum I shipping drum with a capacity of around 210 litres. The drum 12 is closed at the top by a removable lid.

The solar panel support frame 14 is provided in two main parts, a panel support 18 and a stanchion 20. The stanchion 20 is fixed to the support base 12 at one end and the panel support 18 at the other end, to hold the panel support 18 at height above the support base 12. The stanchion 20 is telescopic, to allow for compact storage of the stanchion, inside the container 12, when not in use. The telescopic stanchion 20 also allows the height of the solar panel support 18 to be adjusted, to suit the conditions io and requirements of a particular deployment. Figure 1a shows the stanchion retracted, and Figure 1b shows the stanchion extended.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the container 12. In this embodiment, a lower portion of the stanchion 20 extends all the way to the bottom of the container 12, and is fixed permanently to the bottom of the container 12, for example by welding. The rest of the stanchion 20, not shown in Figure 2, is removable from the lower portion which is visible in Figure 2, for storage, whereas the lower portion of the stanchion 20 may remain permanently in place within the container.

Two lead-acid batteries 22 are disposed at the bottom of the container 12, around the lower portion of the stanchion 20. Preferably, the batteries 22 are located evenly around the bottom of the container. In some embodiments the batteries may be clamped in place to ensure that they stay the correct way up during transport, but ideally any clamping arrangement needs to be easily removable, since in some deployments it is preferable to remove the batteries 22 from their storage position, fill part of the container with earth, stones or other ballast, and then place the batteries

22 on top of the ballast. This adds to the stability of the container in windy conditions and also makes theft more difficult.

A receptacle 26 in the side of the container 12 forms a modular power output arrangement. In other words, power is supplied via electrical connectors to removable modules which can be placed inside the receptacle 26. The receptacle 26 is open to the outside of the container 12 via an aperture 24 in the wall of the container 12, for inserting and removing modules, and for providing easy access to output sockets and/or controls provided on the removable modules. In some embodiments, the aperture 24 may be closed by a door, which may be lockable.

Figure 6 shows the modular power output arrangement in more detail, in particular how the power output and control module 25 is slid in or out of the receptacle 26 in the side of the container 12.

The lower portion of the stanchion 20 is attached to the back of the receptacle 26 via an attachment 28. In this embodiment, the lower portion of the stanchion 20 is permanently mounted to the bottom of the container, and the receptacle 26 is permanently attached to the side of the container, for example by welding. The io attachment 28 therefore does not need to be releasable. However, in an alternative embodiment the stanchion 20 and/or the receptacle 26 may be removable, in which case the attachment 28 may be a releasable clamp, or another type of releasable attachment means.

Figure 3a shows the panel support 18 in detail. The panel support is made from five sections of lightweight aluminium tubing 30 arranged in an Ή’ configuration, with two T pieces 32 at the junctions. The T pieces can be provided with screws to tighten onto the tubing 30 to keep the panel support 18 together.

The solar panel 16 is a flexible solar panel, which can be rolled up for storage within the container. When unrolled, it is fixed to the panel support 18, as shown in Figures

3a and 3b, via holes in the aluminium tubing 30 which are positioned to correspond with holes in the panel 16. A clevis pin 34 is passed through each hole in the panel 16 and the corresponding hole in the aluminium tubing 30, to retain the panel on the panel support 18.

Figure 4 shows an example of a deployment, in which accessories are fixed to the solar panel support frame 14, in addition to any accessories which may be plugged in to the modular power output arrangement 26. In this example, a CCTV camera 36 and two flood lamps 38 are mounted to the support frame 14. A junction box 40 is also provided. The junction box may provide connections for the solar panel 16, which will then be connected to a charge controller internally of the container 12 or the receptacle 26, via wiring which preferably runs internally through the stanchion 20. The junction box may also provide power output connections, for connecting accessories such as the flood lights 38 and CCTV camera 36. These power output connections on the junction box 40 will be connected to the controller, or possibly directly to the batteries 22, again via wiring which preferably runs into the container 12 via the stanchion 20. The power output connections on the junction box 40 will not normally be connected directly to the solar panel. Preferably, different types of connector are provided on the junction box 40 for connection of the solar panel, and for power output connections, to avoid the possibility that the wrong item is plugged into the wrong socket.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a solar charging station 10’. In this embodiment, two solar panels are provided for more power capacity. The solar panels io 16 are each identical to the single solar panel in the first embodiment. They are flexible and can be rolled for easy storage inside the container. The panel support 18’ is in the form of two of the panel supports 18 of the first embodiment, connected together along one long side of the Ή’, and joined by a substantially central spar 19. It is the spar 19 which mounts the panel support 18 to the telescopic stanchion 20.

The electrical arrangement of the solar power stations 10, 10’ will be familiar to the skilled person. The solar panel is connected to a charge controller which controls charging of the lead acid batteries 22, whilst the sun is shining and the panel(s) 16 are generating electricity. Power is then drawn from the batteries 22 when required. The charge controller monitors the condition of the batteries, and may provide a display to show how much charge remains, and whether the batteries are currently being charged or depleted, and to what extent.

The charging stations 10, 10’ are highly portable, produce no fumes, require no fuel, operate silently, and are an effective way to provide off-grid power on a temporary or semi-permanent basis, for lighting, security, internet access, and charging portable devices such as mobile phones and radios.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of example only, and various changes and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

io

Claims

1. A portable solar power station comprising:

a support base in the form of a container with a removable lid;

a collapsible solar panel support frame; and

5 a flexible or collapsible solar panel, the support frame in a collapsed condition and the solar panel in a storage condition being storable within the container, when closed by the lid, the support frame in an assembled condition being attachable to the support base, and the solar panel being attachable to the support frame, for deploying the solar panel

10 above the support base.

2. A portable solar power station as claimed in claim 1, in which an aperture is included in the lid of the container, and in which the support frame in the assembled condition passes through the aperture in the lid so that a lower section of the support frame is disposed within the container.

3. A portable solar power station as claimed in claim 2, in which at least a part of the support frame is hollow, and cables run within the support frame, to connect at least the solar panel to components inside the container.

20

4. A portable solar power station as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the solar panel support frame includes a stanchion and a panel support, the stanchion being attachable to the support base, to hold the panel support at height above the support base.

25 5. A portable solar power station as claimed in claim 4, in which the panel support is made from elongate spars.

6. A portable solar power station as claimed in claim 5, in which the panel support when assembled is substantially an Ή’ shape.

7. A portable solar power station as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, in which the elongate spars are hollow tube sections.

8. A portable solar power station as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the solar panel is flexible.

9. A portable solar power station as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which a modular power output arrangement is provided, in the form of an open receptacle mounted on or in the side of the container.

10. A portable solar power station as claimed in claim 9, in which the open receptacle is closable with a door.

11. A portable solar power station as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, when dependent on claim 2, in which the lower section of the solar panel support frame is fixed to the back of the modular power output arrangement.

12. A portable solar power station as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which a junction box is mounted to the solar panel support frame, at a point above the container.

13. A portable solar power station as claimed in claim 12, in which the junction box includes power input connections for connection to the solar panel, and power output connections for connection to externally mounted accessories.

14. A portable solar power station as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which batteries are provided.

15. A portable solar power station as claimed in claim 14, in which the batteries are lead-acid batteries.

16. A portable solar power station as claimed in claim 14 or 15, in which the batteries are disposed inside the container.

17. A portable solar power station as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the container is in the form of a drum.

18. A portable solar power station as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which a clamping device is provided to fix the support frame to the container.

19. A portable solar power station as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which a peg or screw is provided for attaching the support base to the ground.

5 20. A portable solar power station substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1-3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

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1. A portable solar power station comprising:

a support base in the form of a drum with a removable lid;

a collapsible solar panel support frame; and

5 a flexible or collapsible solar panel, the support frame in a collapsed condition and the solar panel in a storage condition being storable within the drum, when closed by the lid, the support frame in an assembled condition being attachable to the support base, and the solar panel being attachable to the support frame, for deploying the solar panel io above the support base.

2. A portable solar power station as claimed in claim 1, in which an aperture is included in the lid of the drum, and in which the support frame in the assembled condition passes through the aperture in the lid so that a lower section of the support frame is disposed within the drum.

3. A portable solar power station as claimed in claim 2, in which at least a part of the support frame is hollow, and cables run within the support frame, to connect at least the solar panel to components inside the drum.

20 4. A portable solar power station as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the solar panel support frame includes a stanchion and a panel support, the stanchion being attachable to the support base, to hold the panel support at height above the support base.

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5

9. A portable solar power station as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which a modular power output arrangement is provided, in the form of an open receptacle mounted on or in the side of the drum.

10. A portable solar power station as claimed in claim 9, in which the open io receptacle is closable with a door.

12. A portable solar power station as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which a junction box is mounted to the solar panel support frame, at a point above the drum.

20

14. A portable solar power station as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in

25 which batteries are provided.

30

16. A portable solar power station as claimed in claim 14 or 15, in which the batteries are disposed inside the drum.

17. A portable solar power station as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which a clamping device is provided to fix the support frame to the drum.

18. A portable solar power station as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which a peg or screw is provided for attaching the support base to the ground.

05 07 17

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1615243.1 Examiner: Guy Cooper