RU169696U1 - Power supply for low-power remote maintenance-free electronic devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of electrical engineering and can be used as a power source at autonomous remote maintenance-free facilities that do not have a connection to central power supply networks (monitoring and information collection facilities, communication facilities in northern, swampy and hard-to-reach areas). A technical problem to solve which is directed by the claimed utility model, is the expansion of the functionality of a power source capable of receiving energy from both natural energy sources, and alternative energy sources that are not dependent on periodic changes in weather conditions. The essence of the utility model: a power source for low-power remote maintenance-free electronic devices, including energy storage devices and terminals for connecting sources and consumers of energy, contains a charge module, made additionally with the ability to connect to electric potential cathodic protection. As an energy storage device, the power source may comprise a battery, an electric capacitor, or a reversible fuel cell. 3 s.p. f-ly.

Description

The utility model relates to the field of electrical engineering and can be used as a power source at autonomous remote maintenance-free facilities that do not have a connection to central power supply networks (monitoring and information collection facilities, communication facilities in northern, swampy and hard-to-reach areas).

An urgent problem in the development and conduct of economic activity in remote regions that are difficult to access is the provision of electricity to facilities that are not connected to central power supply networks. And if in areas accessible for servicing, for example, highly efficient diesel power supply stations can be used, the power supply of remote inaccessible for frequent periodic maintenance power supply of electronic devices is still a serious problem, especially in climatic zones with significant changes in weather conditions from season to season , as well as in the northern regions, where the ambient temperature reaches the level of -45 ° С and lower.

Power sources are known, including a battery, a battery charge module, and terminals for connecting power sources and consumers, which can be used to organize power supply of low-power autonomous objects and individual devices. At the same time, consumers of electricity receive it from the battery, and the battery, in turn, accumulates electricity in itself due to its periodic or constant supply from one of the energy sources. Such power sources are most often based on the extraction of electricity from solar energy, for example, an autonomous power supply unit SA-50-12 [http://www.solnechnye.ru/gotovye-resheniya/blok-pitaniya-12V-na-solnechnoi-bataree .htm], less often - on the extraction of electricity from wind energy [https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Wind generator], while in the case of using wind energy, the power source additionally includes an electric generator that converts the rotation energy of the wind generator blades into electrical energy. However, such traditional power supplies cannot be used at remote maintenance-free facilities. In particular, solar panels need periodic cleaning of the surface in summer - from dust and dirt, and in winter - from snow, otherwise their effectiveness will be reduced down to zero. In turn, wind generators cannot be used in areas with unstable winds, and it is also significantly difficult to use them at very low temperatures, when the required lubrication consistency in the nodes of the rotating parts of the wind generators is not ensured (usually at ambient temperatures from -20 ° С and below ) Moreover, even the joint use of these energy sources, for example, wind-solar power supply systems manufactured by Svet-DV [http://svetdv.ru/veter/price.shtml], cannot provide stable year-round power supply in many climatic zones.

It is also known to use the cathodic protection electric potential as a power source for a low-power device (sensor) [GB Patent No. 2431058 V]. Moreover, in this technical solution there is no possibility of using alternative sources of electricity.

The device disclosed in RU 118134 U1 is selected as a prototype. Such a device contains electric power sources and electric energy storage devices connected with the terminals (terminals) of energy consumers.

The technical problem to be solved by the claimed utility model is the expansion of the functionality of a power source capable of receiving energy from both natural energy sources and alternative energy sources that are independent of periodic changes in weather conditions. Such a multi-channel power source should provide stable power supply to low-power remote autonomous electrical appliances with periodic on-site maintenance no more than 1 time per year.

The indicated technical problem is solved by a power supply for low-power remote maintenance-free electronic devices, including energy storage devices and terminals for connecting power sources and consumers, which, according to the proposal, contains a charge module, made additionally with the possibility of connecting to the electric potential of the cathodic protection.

As the energy storage device in the claimed power source, use a rechargeable battery, or an electric capacitor, or a reversible fuel cell.

Other sources of electricity can jointly serve:

- sources of solar energy (solar panels);

- sources of wind energy (wind generators);

- thermal energy sources;

- vibration sources (vibration generators);

- sources on chemical and fuel cells;

- piezoelectric energy sources;

- pyroelectric energy sources;

- sources of electromagnetic induction;

- energy sources of fluid flow.

As noted, as one indispensable source of energy in the proposed device use the electric potential of the cathodic protection used to protect metal objects from corrosion, for example, metal pipelines. In this case, the potential difference between the pipe and the ground is from 0.85 to 1.2 V [Evgeny Rabinovich. Cathodic protection of objects using TDK-Lambda programmable power supplies / Electronic Components, No. 8, 2010 - p. 72-74. URL: http://www.russianelectronics.ru/leader-r/review/micro/doc/52995/] and is maintained stable in the indicated range, which is sufficient to organize the power supply of low-power electronic devices (telemetry and telecontrol systems in remote sections of long pipelines etc.).

To realize the possibility of using the energy source received from the electric potential of the cathodic protection in the battery charge module, which is part of the power supply, it is planned to use a step-up voltage converter, built, for example, according to the principle of Energy harvesting [https://en.wikipedia.org / wiki / Energy_harvesting], for example, using serial converters in integral performance manufactured by Texas Instrument companies [http://www.ti.com/lsds/ti/power-management/energy-harvesting-and-solar-charging-overview .page], Maxim Integrated [https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/products/power/battery-manag ement / MAX17710.html] and others.

The connection of the proposed power source (charge module) to the cathodic protection can be carried out in any known manner depending on the operating conditions, including galvanic, mechanical and other methods.

The use of other energy sources is not a difficult engineering task and can be implemented in any known manner, including similar to the above [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_harvesting].

To realize the possibility of using several energy sources in the battery charge module, which is part of the power supply, provide switching of several inputs of the battery charge module in any known manner, for example, as in the prototype, using switching diodes [or see: http: // toshiba. semicon-storage.com/en/product/diode/switching-diode.html].

Depending on the version, the developed device may additionally contain the following units and blocks that do not affect the principle of operation of the developed device, but are required in individual applications:

- electrical fuses, automatic shutdown devices and residual current circuit breakers necessary to ensure the safe operation of electrical installations;

- voltage converters and inverters necessary to ensure the possibility of connecting various devices with different power requirements to the power source.

Thus, the developed device can provide year-round power supply to low-power electronic devices at remote, inaccessible for frequent maintenance positions in any climatic zones, including in areas with unstable winds and in areas where solar panels can be covered with a layer of snow for a long time and therefore, they cannot provide year-round power generation. At the same time, the use of the electric potential of the cathodic protection as one of the energy sources provides the possibility of providing continuous power supply regardless of weather conditions and the season, and the indicated energy source itself does not require periodic maintenance, inspection or replacement.

Claims (4)

1. A power source for low-power remote maintenance-free electronic devices, including energy storage devices and terminals for connecting sources and consumers of energy, characterized in that it contains a charge module, additionally configured to connect to the electric potential of the cathodic protection. 2. The power source according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a battery as an energy storage device. 3. The power source according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains an electric capacitor as an energy storage device. 4. The power source according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a reversible fuel cell as an energy storage device.