WO2003100194A2

WO2003100194A2 - Telecommunication post for isolated zones

Info

Publication number: WO2003100194A2
Application number: PCT/FR2003/001404
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michel Girardot
Original assignee: Girardot Video Communication
Priority date: 2002-05-10
Filing date: 2003-05-06
Publication date: 2003-12-04
Also published as: FR2839591B1; AU2003254524A1; AU2003254524A8; FR2839591A1; WO2003100194A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a telecommunication post for desert and/or isolated regions of the type comprising a metal structure (1) with at least one pylon (2) provided with means for transmitting and receiving signals and a building (3) for housing specific radio equipment and autonomous supply means. The structure is made up of pre-fabricated transportable elements (5, 6), which may be fixed by socket and bolt such that the structure (1) may be placed directly on the ground.

Description

TELECOMMUNICATION STATION FOR DESERTIC AND / OR ISOLATED AREAS.

The subject of the present invention is a telecommunication station of the type comprising at least one pylon equipped with means for receiving and transmitting radio signals, as well as a room containing the specific radio equipment, said station also having a structure and means allowing its establishment in geographic areas difficult to access and / or very isolated.

At present, there are still many regions in the world, in particular desert or mountainous, comprising neither roads nor electrical infrastructure, and where the installation of relays or conventional telecommunications bases is severely hampered, particularly due to the high cost that such an undertaking would entail.

Indeed, the construction of this type of stations generally involves a series of cumbersome operations, as well at the level of the routing of the materials and the machines used, as at the level of the preparation of the site as well as the construction itself, which often requires several months and the presence of a large workforce.

If these constraints are entirely conceivable and bearable in inhabited places and rich in infrastructure, it will be readily understood that they represent major handicaps in the context of installation in remote and isolated areas.

Document GB 2.076.036 thus discloses a telecommunication station arranged in height so as to be accessible only to authorized persons. Given the height of such an installation, it is absolutely necessary to make rest it on solid foundations, which limits the locations.

In addition, the operation of conventional telecommunications stations is also dependent, in general, on the proximity of an electrical network, suitable for being used as a source of energy. And the absence or the presence of such a network still constitutes one of the predominant criteria today in the choice of a site for the establishment of a station.

There are also known autonomous control devices for isolated installations, comprising, on a structure of simple design, telecommunication means for ensuring the maintenance of said installations. Document US 6,058,299 thus describes a device for controlling a natural gas well, comprising means for measuring the characteristics of the production of said well, and means for transmitting said measurements. However, the characteristics of the structure of this device, which has dimensions of the order of a meter, could not be used to produce the structure of a telecommunication station whose dimensions are of the order of several tens of meters. .

The present invention aims to overcome the various aforementioned problems, and to allow isolated areas to be connected to the means of transmitting global information, by proposing a completely autonomous telecommunication station, capable of operating independently of a network. electric, and can be quickly and easily installed, without requiring significant machinery or manpower and able to withstand climates which may present extreme conditions.

The telecommunication station for desert and / or isolated areas according to the invention is of the type having a structure metallic comprising at least one pylon equipped with means for transmitting and receiving signals, a room for storing specific radio equipment, and means for autonomous power supply, and it is essentially characterized in that said structure consists of elements prefabricated self-supporting, which can be joined together by interlocking and bolting, so that said structure is capable of being deployed directly on the ground.

According to an additional characteristic of the telecommunication station according to the invention, the autonomous supply means consist of a solar generator.

In a preferred embodiment, the solar generator consists of a plurality of orientable photovoltaic panels connected to lead batteries, of a control and protection cabinet, of a coupling box and of a management automaton. .

According to another additional characteristic of the telecommunication station according to the invention, it comprises complementary sources of energy supply, of the microturbine type, or wind turbines.

According to a particular embodiment of the telecommunication station according to the invention, it comprises at least one wind turbine arranged inside the structure of the pylon.

According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the telecommunication station according to the invention, the structure has a chassis made of hot-dip galvanized iron, provided capable of supporting the pylon, the room, and the means of autonomous supply. According to another characteristic, the frame is capable of being slightly buried after leveling the ground, and placed on a bed of sand raised level.

According to an additional characteristic, the chassis rests at the four corners on galvanized iron plates ensuring it a good seat and allowing an adjustment of the installation.

Furthermore, so as to allow implantation in regions with extreme climates, the telecommunication station according to the invention is also characterized in that the room is equipped with air conditioning capable of regulating the temperature as a function of the limit values accepted by the specific equipment stored.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the telecommunications station according to the invention comprises means capable of giving the alarm in the event of a malfunction of the installation.

According to an additional characteristic, the telecommunication station according to the invention comprises means for controlling presence on the site, and a fence prohibiting access to unauthorized persons.

The advantages and characteristics of the telecommunication station according to the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and which relates to the appended drawing, which represents a non-limiting embodiment thereof.

In the attached drawing:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a telecommunication station according to the invention, FIG. 2 represents an elevation view of the same telecommunication station,

Figure 3 shows a top view of the same telecommunications station.

FIG. 4 represents an elevation view of part of a variant of the same telecommunication station.

With reference to these figures, one can see a telecommunication station according to the invention, specially studied and designed to connect to the existing global networks, regions hitherto kept apart because of their isolated character, or because they are difficult to access and have harsh climates.

Such a telecommunication station comprises a structure 1 and, conventionally, at least one telecommunication pylon 2, equipped with the various antennas necessary for the reception and transmission of radio signals, as well as a room 3 in which is stored a series of specific radio equipment.

The telecommunication station comprises autonomous supply means, such as, for example, a solar generator capable of using solar energy.

By way of example, the solar generator is preferably designed to deliver an average power of 1400 watts, under 48 volts in direct current.

It consists of a plurality of photovoltaic panels 4, comprising mono or poly-crystalline solar modules. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the photovoltaic panels 4 are controlled by devices mechanical allowing their inclination, from 15 degrees to 50 degrees, and five degrees in 5 degrees.

This inclination is a function of the positioning of the station relative to the equator and allows the photovoltaic panels 4 to store solar energy optimally.

In addition, the solar generator also includes two redundant voltage regulators, and two compact 2500Ah lead batteries.

These are low self-discharge and low maintenance, and provide autonomy of the order of seven days at nominal power.

A DC / AC inverter converter is provided capable of supplying the 220V alternating current necessary for the operation of the various technical devices and installations necessary for the operation of the station.

In addition, two control cabinets, a coupling box and a management automaton guarantee the availability of the power supply.

It should be noted that the station offers the possibility of receiving, in particular in the context of sites with high electrical consumption, other sources of energy supply, such as wind turbines or micro-turbines, for example.

The structure 1 of the telecommunication station is made up of self-supporting elements which can be joined together by interlocking, are light and easy to transport, in order to allow rapid and easy installation.

All the constituent elements of the structure 1 are prefabricated in the factory, to be deployed directly on the ground, without requiring heavy preparations, such as foundations, concrete foundations, and the use of cranes etc ...

Structure 1 will, in fact, be slightly buried, between 5 and 20cm, after leveling the ground, and placed on a bed of level sand.

Thus, the structure 1 includes in particular a metal frame 5 in the form of a frame, which rests on plates 8 of galvanized iron, one at each corner to ensure a good seat.

The chassis 5 is provided capable of supporting the pylon 2, the room 3, as well as a frame 6 consisting of an assembly of vertical and horizontal beams 60, and intended to carry the photovoltaic panels 4.

The chassis 5 is connected to a ground network consisting of a strip of mailiage and coated in the adjustment sand. At the four corners of the mesh, four strip tapes are connected to the metal frame 5.

In addition, two other tapes are connected to pylon 2 and room 3, via earth plates.

It will be noted that the frame 6 carries the photovoltaic panels 4 by means of supports 13 designed capable of allowing the passage of the wind, so as to avoid tearing off of the photovoltaic panels 4 in the event of strong gusts.

The pylon 2 is made from a series of members 7 that can be bolted together, and can have, as required, a height of 24, 30 or 36 meters, for a total weight of approximately 4 tonnes. The pylon 2 is provided capable of withstanding strong winds, and it is therefore fixed on two irons of the metal frame 5, through a series of connection points.

In a particularly advantageous manner, all the constituent elements of the structure are provided capable of being assembled together by bolting.

Furthermore, the pylon 2 is equipped with a certain number of conventional accessories, such as in particular, GSM antennas, "microwaves", work platforms 9 and rest platforms 10, or an interior ladder.

The equipment is, moreover, protected from lightning by a lightning rod 11 placed on the pylon 2 and connected to the earth and mesh networks.

There is also a system of daytime red and white beaconing, as well as nighttime beaconing comprising two lamps, one of which is redundant.

According to another characteristic of the telecommunication station 1, the room 3 is in the form of a compact enclosure, monobloc or coming from the bringing together of two parts.

The walls and the roof of the room 3 are made from two-layer panels containing a thermal insulator, such as, for example, high density polyurethane foam. They are also covered with a pre-lacquered steel sheet.

It includes, in addition to conventional radio equipment, control and coupling cabinets for the solar generator, batteries, self-protection and a remote monitoring system. Furthermore, room 3 is also provided with air conditioning capable of regulating the temperature as a function of the limit values accepted by the specific equipment stored, ranging for example between 5 ° C and 40 ° C, the operation of which is limited in duration during periods of sunshine corresponding to an overproduction of the solar generator.

According to another characteristic, the telecommunication station also includes means making it possible to trigger an alarm in the event of a malfunction of the installation or possible deviations of the parameters.

Thus, an alarm can be triggered, for example in the event of a fire, in the event of detection of a battery fault, or even in the event of detection of abnormal voltage values.

On the other hand, the station is also equipped with access control means, such as a metal fence 12 and presence control means, such as proximity radars, connected to an alarm system.

All the information linked to the supervision of the telecommunication station can be retransmitted, if necessary, to a central remote monitoring computer, so as to allow immediate intervention on site.

Referring to Figure 4, we can see the pylon 2 of a telecommunications station, equipped with wind turbines 20. These wind turbines 20 are arranged inside the structure of the pylon 2, that is to say between the members 7, so as to be protected there. Each of these wind turbines 20 comprises a rotor 21 carrying blades 22 and mounted for free pivoting along a vertical axis at the top of a mast 23, while a fin 24 provides orientation. As is clear from the above, the present invention allows rapid installation of a telecommunication station in previously inaccessible areas, thanks to the use of prefabricated means, transportable in standardized containers, two may be sufficient, by all ordinary means of transport, including the helicopter, and which can be assembled in a very short time with a relatively reduced cost.

Indeed, the implementation operations comprise only a few steps, the main ones of which are the preparation of the ground, the establishment of the ground network and the assembly of the metal chassis 5, the establishment of the room 3 and mounting the pylon 2 with its accessories, installing the antennas and coaxial cables, installing the photovoltaic panels 4 and the batteries, installing the fence and the connections.

These operations do not require bulky machinery or machinery which is difficult to move and can be carried out by a reduced number of workers.

On the other hand, as provided by the present invention, the telecommunication station also has a certain number of characteristics allowing its implantation in geographic regions subjected to difficult climatic conditions, such as extreme temperatures and strong winds.

Claims

1) Telecommunication station for desert and / or isolated areas, of the type having a metal structure (1) comprising at least one pylon (2) equipped with means for transmitting and receiving signals, and a room (3) for storing specific radio equipment, and autonomous supply means, characterized in that said structure (1) consists of self-supporting elements (5, 6) prefabricated, which can be joined together by nesting and bolting, so that said structure (1) is suitable for being deployed directly on the ground.

2) Telecommunication station according to claim 1, characterized in that the autonomous supply means consist of a solar generator.

3) Telecommunication station according to claim 2, characterized in that the solar generator consists of a plurality of orientable photovoltaic panels (4) connected to lead batteries and mounted on supports (13) able to let the wind pass , a control and protection cabinet, a coupling box and a management automaton.

4) Telecommunication station according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises complementary sources of energy supply, such as micro-turbines, or wind turbines.

5) Telecommunication station according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one wind turbine (20) disposed internally to the structure of the pylon (2). 6) Telecommunication station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structure (1) has a metal frame (5) of hot-dip galvanized iron provided capable of supporting the pylon (2), the room (3) , and the autonomous power supply means (4).

7) Telecommunication station according to claim 6, characterized in that the metal frame (5) is able to be slightly buried after leveling the ground and placed on a level bed of sand.

8) Telecommunication station according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that the metal frame (5) rests at the four corners on plates (8) of galvanized iron ensuring it a good seat and allowing adjustment of the installation .

9) Telecommunication station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the room (3) is equipped with air conditioning capable of regulating the temperature as a function of the limit values accepted by the specific equipment which is stored there.

10) Telecommunication station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means capable of giving the alarm in the event of a malfunction of the installation.

11) Telecommunication station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for controlling presence on the site, and a fence (12) prohibiting access to unauthorized persons.