WO2012117356A2

WO2012117356A2 - Transportable system for generating electric energy from vegetable materials

Info

Publication number: WO2012117356A2
Application number: PCT/IB2012/050939
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimo BAILO
Original assignee: Bailo Massimo
Priority date: 2011-03-02
Filing date: 2012-02-29
Publication date: 2012-09-07
Also published as: WO2012117356A3; ITMI20110328A1; AP2013007134A0

Abstract

The present invention describes a system for generating electric energy (1 ) from vegetable materials, comprising an assembly for generating fuel oils (200) having a module of extraction (210) of vegetable oils from vegetable materials and a module of transformation (250) of the extracted vegetable oils into said fuel oils; a main assembly for generating electric energy (300) comprising a combustion engine (320) and an electric generator (330) coupled to the combustion engine (320); a solar energy collecting and converting assembly (400), for converting solar energy into electric energy. The assembly for generating fuel oils (200) is operatively connected to the main assembly for generating electric energy (300) so as to supply said fuel oils as fuel for the combustion engine (320). The solar energy collecting and converting assembly (400) is operatively connected to the assembly for generating fuel oils (200) to supply an electric activation energy of the assembly for generating fuel oils (200). The system (1 ) also comprises a support and containment structure (100) that can be transported as a single unit, in which the assembly for generating fuel oils (200), the main assembly for generating electric energy (300) and the solar energy collecting and converting assembly (400) are altogether housed, so that the whole system for generating electric energy (1 ) is transportable as a single unit.

Description

TRANSPORTABLE SYSTEM FOR GENERATING ELECTRIC ENERGY FROM

VEGETABLE MATERIALS

DESCRIPTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of application

The present invention refers to a system for generating energy, and in particular to a system for generating electric energy (or, equivalently, electric power) from vegetable materials, suitable for use in rural areas lacking in infrastructure.

Description of the prior art

In several situations, it is particularly felt the need to have systems for generating energy, in particular electric energy, which can be displaced and used in locations partially or completely lacking in infrastructures, especially in remote or disadvantaged areas, like for example rural agricultural areas in developing countries, and which are based on renewable energy sources.

Indeed, known systems based on conventional fossil fuels, for example diesel engines in combination with electric generators, have the clear drawback of requiring to be continuously refuelled with fossil fuel (e.g. diesel oil), which can be difficult or expensive, or even sometimes impossible, in the considered context of rural areas lacking in infrastructures.

In other words, such systems, even when they are portable, do not ensure energy self-sufficiency in locations where they are installed , which remain dependent on fuel, not locally available, to be remotely supplied. This can be particularly difficult, because the locations, from wh ich the fuel i s to be transported, can be even very far from the aforementioned locations.

Therefore, with reference now to systems for generating energy based on renewable energies, different solutions are known that exploit natural resources available, even in the aforementioned rural areas (e.g., the water energy or the wind energy). However, this requires the construction of plants (for example wind farms or hydroelectric power stations) that are expensive and, clearly, cannot be moved.

Solar energy collectors, be they photovoltaic systems for converting solar energy into electric energy or solar thermal systems for converting solar energy into electric energy, are a further type of known systems for generating energy. However, solar energy collectors do not work in the evening and during the night, and may offer a l owe r yi el d , even d u ri n g th e daylight, depending on meteorological events.

Therefore, the mentioned known systems for generating energy seem to be unsuitable for application in the context considered here, due to the various drawbacks outlined above.

The main object of the present invention is to devise and provide a system for generating electric energy, based on renewable raw materials, which can be easily moved and used in areas lacking in infrastructures, so as to at least partially overcome the drawbacks described above with reference to the prior art.

A further objective of the present invention is to devise and provide a transportable system for generating electric energy, based on renewable raw materials, which is able to operate continuously, day and night, without using conventional fossil fuels.

Summary of the invention

Such an object is achieved by a system in accordance with claim 1.

Further embodiments of such a system are defined in the dependent claims from 2 to 14.

A method for generating electric energy from vegetable materials, according to the invention, is defined in claim 15.

A further embodiment of such a method is defined in claim 16.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the system for generating electric energy from vegetable materials according to the invention will become clearer from the following description of preferred embodiments, given for indicating and not limiting purposes, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

- figure 1 shows a simplified diagram of a system for generating energy from vegetable materials according to an example of the invention; in particular, figure 1 shows a section view of a system according to the invention, in a working configuration thereof;

- figure 2 shows a simplified section view of a system according to the invention, in a transport configuration thereof;

- figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of an assembly for generating fuel oils from vegetable materials, comprised in the system of the invention;

- figure 4 shows a side view of the system according to the invention, in a transport configuration thereof.

Detailed description

With reference to figure 1 , a system for generating electric energy (or, equivalently, for generating electric power) 1 from vegetable materials will now be described, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

The system for generating electric energy 1 comprises an assembly for generating fuel oils 200 (which hereafter will also be defined as "fuel generating assembly 200"), which in turn comprises an module of extraction 210 of vegetable oils from vegetable materials and a module of transformation 250 of the extracted vegetable oils into fuel oils (which hereafter will also be defined as "transformation module 250").

The system for generating electric energy 1 also comprises a main assem bly for generati ng electric energy 300, wh ich in turn com prises a com bustion engi ne 320 and an electric generator 330 cou pled with the combustion engine 320.

Such an assembly is defined as "main" assembly for generating electric energy since it is able to produce electric energy (or, equivalently, electric power) that can be delivered to the outside, and can be used for the requirements of the area in which the system for generating electric energy 1 is installed. In fact, as will be illustrated hereafter, such a main assembly for generating electric energy is able to deliver amounts of energy compatible with such a use, continuously throughout the day.

The combustion engine 320, per se known, is for example a diesel engine capable of operating with fuel oils derived from vegetables.

The combustion engine 320 is coupled with an electric generator 330, per se known, which, once actuated by the combustion engine 320, converts the mechanical energy produced by the motor itself into electric energy (or, equivalently, electric power). The electric generator 330, for example, can be a transportable apparatus, per se known, for generating electric energy from mechanical energy. The availability of electric generators having different electric and mechanical characteristics, remaining within the functional and physical requirements of the present system, allows various embodiments of the system, suitable for a wide range of situations.

For example, it should be noted that the main assembly for generating electric energy 300 can be sized so as to produce about 35-40 kW of power, thus satisfying the whole energy requirement, for example, of a hospital located in an area lacking in infrastructures, in wh ich the system can be transported and installed.

In accordance with a further example embodiment, the main assembly 300 is sized so as to produce about 24 kW of power, thus satisfying the energy requirement of a different context of application (for example a small rural village).

The electric generator 330, as shown in fig. 1 , comprises means for transmitting electric energy 340, configured to be connected with a local electric power distribution infrastructure, which may be located e.g., in the mentioned hospital in a remote area.

With reference again to figure 1 , it should be noted that the assembly for generating fuel oils 200 is operatively connected to the main assembly for generating electric energy 300 so as to supply the latter with said fuel oils as fuel for the combustion engine 320.

In particular, in the embodiment shown in fig. 1 , the main assembly for generating electric energy 300 also comprises a tank 310 for fuel. Moreover, the tank 31 0 is connected through connection means 290 to the transformation mod u le 250 , so that the vegetable-originated fuel oils, generated by the transformation module 250, are collected and stored in the tank 310.

The connection means 290 are for example made by means of a duct through which the vegetable-originated fuel oils can flow, either by the force of gravity, should the slope of the duct be arranged for this purpose, or, preferably, by the action of a pump (not shown in fig. 1 ) with which the fuel generating assembly 200 can be equipped.

It should be observed that the main assembly for generating electric energy 300 comprises fuel feeding means 350, per se known, which connect the combustion engine 320 to the ta n k 31 0. S uch fu el feeding means 350, comprising a duct for transporting the oils, are suitable for supplying the engine 320 with the fuel oils taken from the tank 310, as the fuel necessary for the operation of the combustion engine 320. Therefore, the vegetable-originated fuel oils stored in the tank 310 are a fuel stock that the combustion engine 320 can continuously draw upon, thus ensuring the possibility of continuous operation, as will be better illustrated hereafter.

In an alternative embodiment, the main assembly for generating electric energy 300 does not comprise the tank 310, the connection means 290 are configured to be connected to one or more external tanks outside the system 1 , and the feeding fuel means 350 are configured to connect the combustion engine 320 to said one or more external tanks.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the main assembly for generating electric energy is an assembly for co-generating electric and thermal energy. In such a case, the thermal energy, produced by the combustion engine 320, during its operation to actuate the electric generator 330, is collected and conveyed, through means for collecting and distributing thermal energy, not shown in fig. 1 , so as to be exploitable.

Optionally, in a further example embodiment, the system 1 can comprise a heat dissipating module.

As also illustrated in fig. 1 , the system for generating electric energy 1 further comprises a solar energy collecting and converting assembly 400 (which hereafter will also be defined as "collecting and converting assembly 400"), configured to convert solar energy into electric energy.

Such a collecting and converting assembly 400 can be made through numerous different solutions, per se known.

A preferred embodiment provides the use of photovoltaic panels, capable of converting solar energy into electric energy.

Further embodiments provides, for example, the use of solar thermal panels, further equipped with converters for converting the thermal energy prod uced by the solar th erma l pan els i nto electric en ergy; otherwise, alternatively, the combined use of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal panels.

According to further embodiments, the collecting and converting assembly 400 comprises solar concentration systems using high-efficiency photovoltaic cells or "Stirling cycle" engines, or other systems for producing energy from solar energy, which are per se known.

The collecting and converting assembly is operatively connected to the assembly for generating fuel oils 200, to supply electric energy of activation of the assembly for generating fuel oils 200, through electric feeding means 410, per se known, comprising for example electric cables and, optionally, voltage and/or current converters.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment shown in fig. 1 , the collecting and converting assembly 400 is also operatively connected to the main assembly for generating electric energy 300, to supply electric energy of activation of the main assembly for generating electric energy 300, through further electric feeding means 420, per se known, comprising for example electric cables and, optionally, voltage and/or current converters. This is useful if such a main assembly 300 also needs, for example, a small amount of energy to start the engine 320 or to keep the fuel oils stored in the tank 310 at suitable temperatures to allow their use in an optimal manner.

In a different embodiment comprised in the invention, applicable if the main assembly for generating electric energy 300 is energy self-sufficient, the collecting and converting assembly 400 is configured to supply electric energy of activation only to the assembly for generating fuel oils 200.

Some details about the ways of using the electric energy of activation will be provided in a following part of the description, while describing with more details the fuel generating assembly 200.

It should be noted that the cited electric energy of activation is an

"auxiliary" energy, in the sense that it is mainly used for the operation of the system 1 , and it is additional and distinct with respect to the electric energy that can be delivered to the outside, i.e. the energy produced by the system itself.

The remarks reported above do not exclude the possibility that, in a further embodiment of the invention, a part of the auxiliary energy generated by the collecting and converting assembly 400 is supplied towards the outside, as additional exploitable energy, through further means for transmitting electric energy 341 . In this case, such additional energy, adding to the energy delivered through the transmission means 340, allows an improvement of the overall performance of the system 1 . Such an embodiment, advantageously, allows the energy produced by the collecting and converting assembly 400 to be best exploited, if its amount is larger than what is needed by the system 1 to operate. The available amount of said solar-originated additional energy depends on the performance of the installed collecting and converting assembly 400, and varies over time, depending on the sun exposure conditions.

In accordance with yet another embodiment, a part of the energy generated by the collecting and converting assembly 400 is used to charge an electric battery pack, the fuel generating assembly 200 can be equipped with. In this case, advantageously, the pack of electric batteries can use the charged energy to feed the fuel generating assembly 200, thus increasing its operating autonomy, even when the collecting and converting assembly 400 is not working.

Considering again the energy functional aspects of the system , it is important to remark that the electric energy produced by the system for generating electric energy 1 is much larger, advantageously, with respect to the electric energy of activation, which it needs to operate.

In fact, the energy produced by the system 1 derives mainly from the conversion of the chemical energy stored in the vegetable material exploited as raw material, and not from the energy generated by the collecting and converting assembly 400, and therefore, amongst other things, it depends on the raw material amount that the system 1 manages to treat.

It is important to highlight that, in an embodiment of the invention, the combustion engine 320 is configured to consume a first amount of fuel oils, in an operating time unit. On the other hand, the assembly for generating fuel oils 200 is configured to generate, when active, in the same operating time unit, a total amount of fuel oils that is larger than said first amount of fuel oils consumed by the combustion engine 320, so that a second amount of fuel oils, generated in the operating time unit by the assembly for generating fuel oils 200, can be stored as a fuel stock, wherein the second amount of fuel oils is equal to the difference between the total amount of fuel oils and the first amount of fuel oils.

In a further embodiment of the invention, in which the main assembly for generating electric energy 300 comprises the tank 31 0, connected through con nection means 290 to the fuel generating assembly 200 , and further connected to the combustion engine 320 through fuel feeding means 350, the system 1 is configured so as to take up two possible operating conditions.

In a first operating condition, in which the fuel generating assembly 200 is active, said first amount of fuel oils is received in the tank 310, in the operating time unit, through the connection means 290, and is supplied, through the fuel feeding means 350, to the combustion engine 320; said second amount of fuel oils, in the same operating time unit, is received, through the connection means 290, and is stored in the tank 310, to form said fuel stock.

In a second operative condition, in which the fuel generating assembly 200 is inactive, said fuel reserve is used by the combustion engine 320, which draws on it through the fuel feeding means 350, to operate even while the fuel generating assembly 200 is inactive.

According to a further embodiment, the system for generating electric energy 1 also comprises an electric-electronic monitoring and control module, configured to command, control and monitor the operative processes of said fuel generating assembly 200, main assembly for generating electric energy 300 and collecting and converting assembly 400. Such an electric-electronic monitoring and control module can for example comprise, operatively connected to one another, a computer, and, further, electronic sensors of relevant variables (for example temperature, electric power, and so on) installed in various points of the system itself, and actuator elements (for example, with reference to elements depicted in figs. 1 and 2, elements for switching on the press 203 or the engine 320, for actuating the pumps 253, 255, 265, 267 and so on). Such an electric- electronic monitoring and control module is per se known, and therefore it is not described here any further.

Making now reference to figures 1 , 2 and 4, it should be observed that the system for generating electric energy 1 further comprises a support and containment structure 100 (which hereafter will sometimes also be defined as "container" 100).

The support and containment structure 100 can be transported as a unit, i.e. as a single container.

In the support and containment structure 100 it is possible to house, altogether, said assembly for generating fuel oils 200, main assembly for generating electric energy 300 and solar energy collecting and converting assembly 400, so that the entire system for generating electric energy 1 can be transported as a unit.

It should be observed that the property of the system 1 of being "able to be transported as a unit" means that it is possible to transport the entire set of assemblies making up the system, comprising all of the operative connections between them that allow the operation of the system. In such a way, it is possible to move and displace the system, and make it work, after transportation to a desired location, even without the need to take care of assembly of parts of the system in loco.

Advantageously, as illustrated in figures 2 and 4, the support and containment structure 100 is substantially parallelepiped-shaped, h avi ng a plurality of walls. Such a plurality of walls of the container 100 comprises a first wall 101 , which can be defined as "lower" because (in a working configuration) it is intended to rest on a platform or on the ground, directly or through supports; the first wall 101 is a main support for the fuel generating assembly 200 and for the main assembly for generating electric energy 300, which, for example, can be mounted on it.

The plurality of walls of the container 100 also comprises a second wall 102 (parallel and opposite to said first wall 101 ), that can be defined as "upper" because it is intended to cover the top of the system 1 , and in particular the collecting and converting assembly 400. The wall 102 is indicated in figures 2 and 4.

The plurality of walls of the container 100 comprises, as side walls, a third wall 104 (visible in figures 2 and 4) on a side of the parallelepiped at which the fuel generating assembly 200 is housed; a fourth wall 104, next to which the main assembly for generating electric energy 300 is housed, on the opposite side of the parallelepiped with respect to the third wall 103; a fifth wall 105 (indicated as bottom wall in the section view of fig. 2); a sixth wall 106 (not visible in the section view of fig. 2, but shown in fig. 4).

It should be noted that, in an embodiment, on one or more of the mentioned walls, preferably on the wall 104 next to the main assembly 300, there are air intakes for a heat dissipating module with which the system 1 can be equipped.

Thanks to the fact that it is housed in a single container 100, the system for generating electric energy 1 can take up different configurations, in particular a transport configuration and a working configuration.

In a transport configuration, illustrated in figures 2 and 4, the container 100 is completely closed, so that the entire system for generating electric energy 1 is contained in it and completely separated from the external environment by said plurality of walls of the container 100. In the embodiment of figure 2, the container 100 further comprises a support wall 1 07 for the collecting and converting assembly 400, arranged parallel to the second wall 102 so as to create inside the container 100, when closed , a seat 1 08 in which the collecting and converting assembly 400 is located. Such a seat 108, in the transport configuration, completely encloses and protects the collecting and converting assembly 400, in a rest position thereof.

Figure 1 , already described above, illustrates a section view of the system 1 in a working configuration, i.e. a configuration taken up when the system for generating electric energy 1 is operative.

It should be observed that, in order to allow the system 1 to pass from said transport configuration to said working configuration, one or more of the plurality of walls of the container 100 are configured to be partially or totally opened and/or removed.

In accordance with an embodiment, one or more of the plurality of walls of the container 100, for this purpose, comprise one or more hatches or doors, hinged on one side and can be opened on the other, in order allow such walls to be partially or totally opened.

I n the aforementioned working configu ration of the system 1 , the collecting and converting assembly 400 takes up its own working position, in which it is exposed to solar radiation.

For this purpose, the second wall 102 of the container 100 is opened and/or removed, totally and/or partially (for this reason, it is not visible in fig. 1 ). In further embodiments of the invention, there are mechanical lifting means, like for example a mechanical arm actuated by a motor, suitable for raising the collecting and converting assembly 400 into a higher working position with respect to the rest position, after the opening or removal of the second wall 102.

Accord i ng to a fu rther embod iment, the collecting and converting assembly 400 comprises further photovoltaic and/or solar panels, supported by a suitable frame structure. Such further panels, in the rest configuration , are contained in the container 100, folded so as to be substantially parallel to one or more of the side walls 103, 104, 105, 106. In the working configuration, the frame structures that support such further panels, after one or more of said side walls have been opened , are unfolded so that the mentioned further panels are exposed to solar radiation, being positioned substantially on the same plane as the photovoltaic and/or solar panels arranged on the inner support wall 107. Such an embodiment advantageously allows to increase the energy generated by the collecting and converting assembly 400.

Moreover, in the working configuration of the system 1 , there is an opening for inserting vegetable material , intended to feed the module of extraction 210 of the assembly for generating fuel oils 200.

For this purpose, the third wall 1 03 of the container 100 is partially or totally opened and/or removed (for this reason it is not visible in fig. 1 ).

In particular, in accordance with an example embodiment, the wall 103 comprises two hatches, hinged at the sides of the wall 103; the two hatches can be opened at the centre of the wall 103, so as to allow a complete opening of the wall 104, in the working configuration, starting from a closed position, ensured through locks, taken up in the transport configuration.

Optionally, in different embodiments, one or more of the remaining side walls 104, 105, 106 can be partially and/or totally opened and/or removed too, for example to facilitate access to operators for the maintenance of the system 1 , or the removal of waste produced by the system 1 , or the replacement of parts of the system 1 .

For example, in an embodiment, each of the side walls 105 and 106 comprises two hatches, hinged at the centre, that can be opened at the sides of the respective wall. Each of such hatches can be opened by rotating about its own hinge, until a position is reached that is perpendicular to the starting position, thus determining, on the respective sides of the container 100, two large access openings.

According to further embodiments, not shown, the container 100 can comprise inner divider walls between the different elements of the system 1.

In accordance with an embodiment, such divider walls define a space inside the container 100, suitable for containing said hatches of the side walls 1 05 and 106, which can slide towards the inside of the container 100, once opened as described above.

It is important to remark that, advantageously, the container 100 meets standards related to containers commonly used for transporting goods by lorry, train or ship.

In particular, according to an example embodiment, the container 100 is a "standard 20' container", with dimensions of 6m in length, 2.5m in width and 2.5m in height. It is completely closed, in the transport configuration, and it allows one or more walls to be opened, in the working configuration, as already described.

In a further embodiment, the container 100 is a "standard 40' container", with dimensions of 12m in length, 2.5m in width and 2.5m in height.

Thanks to the aforementioned characteristics of the container 100, the system 1 can be easily transported up to the installation location, no matter how remote it may be.

Purely as an example, the system 1 can be transported by ship, in an ordinary goods transportation ship (container-carrying ship), from the country in which the system 1 is built to a port of the country in which it has to be used.

From the ship, it can be unloaded and then loaded onto a lorry, through systems and methods for moving "containers" commonly present and used in ports.

Therefore, the system 1 can be transported by lorry to the location to which it needs to be transported and used, for example in a remote rural location lacking in infrastructures.

Once it has reached the installation location, the system 1 can easily be made operative in a short time, by simply reconfiguring the container 100, as described above, so that the system 100 passes from its transport configuration to its working configuration.

The assembly for generating fuel oils 200 will now be illustrated in greater detail, with reference to figure 3.

I n particular, the illustrated embodiment refers to an assembly for generating fuel oils 200 based on the conversion of vegetable material consisting of seeds, and more specifically oleiferous seeds of plants belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family, for example "Jatropha Curcas". Plants from this family, the same one to which castor-oil plant and manioc belong, are very common in countries to which the present system is possibly addresses, and this provides a wi d e ra n ge of ch oi ce , a ccord ing to the specific foreseen installation location/country.

The above reported example does not exclude the possible use of vegetable materials of a different type, by means of an assembly for generating fuel oils having substantially the same structure described here below.

The assembly for generating fuel oils 200 comprises a loading element 201 , in which the oleiferous seeds are loaded, for example manually, and a hopper 202 for containing the loaded oleiferous seeds.

The fuel generating assembly 200 also comprises a press 203, for example a continuous screw press, operated by electric energy, connected to the hopper 202 to receive the seeds that must be pressed. The press 203 carries out a pressi ng of the received seeds, and, for its operation, is fed by the aforementioned electric energy of activation of the fuel generating assembly 200; for this purpose, the press 203 is operatively connected, through the electric feeding means 410, to the collecting and converting assembly 400.

The press 203, through the pressing of the received oleiferous seeds, produces vegetable oils, which are collected in a collection vat 204 of vegetable oils.

Overall, the loading element 201 , the hopper 202, the press 203 and the collection vat 204 form the module of extraction 210 of vegetable oils from vegetable materials, illustrated earlier with reference to figure 1 . As described above, the module of extraction 21 0 is able to extract vegetable oils from vegetable materials, in particular oleiferous seeds.

It should be noted that, according to a different embodiment, the loading element 201 and the hopper 202 are not included in the module of extraction 210; in this case, the press 203 is connected to a loading element and to a hopper placed outside the system, to be supplied by them with vegetable materials.

In addition to the vegetable oils, the pressing of the oleiferous seeds produces waste materials, which can be considered as "pellet", that in turn can be recovered for other uses. In order to collect such "pellet", the module of extraction 210 provides an Archimedean screw for transporting pellet 205, which connects the collection tank 204 to a collector of waste material 206, for example a drum.

The vegetable oils extracted by the module of extraction 210 are sent, for a s ubsequent processing step, to the module of transformation 250 of the vegetable oils into fuel oils, illustrated earlier in figure 1 .

The transformation module 250 firstly comprises a collection tank of vegetable oils 252, connected to the collection vat 204 through a first duct for vegetable oils 251 , so that the extracted vegetable oils, contained in the collection vat 204, are conveyed through the first duct for vegetable oils 251 and are stored in the collection tank of vegetable oils 252.

The transformation module 250 also comprises a first tank for acidic water 254 and a second tank for acidic water 256, intended to contain acidic water used as reactant in a subsequent reaction step.

The transformation module 250 also comprises a reactor for oil 260, configured to carry out the reactions necessary to convert vegetable oils into raw fuel oils, which reactions are per se known.

For this purpose, the reactor for oil 260 receives the vegetable oils and the acidic water as reactants.

The vegetable oils, stored in the oil collection tank 252, are conveyed into the reactor for oil 260, through a second duct for oil 258, by means of a first pump for oil 253.

The acidic water, contained in the first tank for acidic water 254, is conveyed, through a centrifugal pump for acidic water 255, into the second tank for acidic water 256. From the second tank for acidic water 256, through acidic water flow control means 257 (for example a dosing pump for acidic water 257), a controlled amount of acidic water is conveyed through a second duct for acidic water 259 up to the reactor for oil 260.

The reactor for oil 260, in order to carry out the transformation reactions of vegetable oils into raw fuel oils, using acidic water as reactant, must operate at much higher temperatures than room temperature, typically around 90°C. Therefore, it needs thermal energy, which is supplied to the reactor for oil 260 by a heater 261 , per se known, which receives electric energy of activation from the collecting and converting assembly 400, through the electric connection means 410, and converts such electric energy of activation into thermal energy.

According to an alternative embodiment, in which the collecting and converting assembly 400 comprises solar thermal panels, the thermal energy necessary for the reactor for oil 260 is supplied directly by such solar thermal panels.

According to a further embodiment, in which the main assembly 300 is an assembly for co-generating electric and thermal energy (option already previously mentioned), the thermal energy needed by the reactor for oil 260 is supplied by the main assembly 300 itself of the system 1.

The raw fuel oils, produced by the reactor 260, are stored in a decanting equipment 262 for raw fuel oils, in which such raw fuel oils are decanted producing decanted fuel oils, which are conveyed into an accumulation apparatus for decanted oil 264 through a third duct for oil 263.

Diatomaceous earth can be added into the accumulation apparatus 264, and is mixed with the decanted oils, through an agitator, so as to capture solid residues in suspension in the oils.

The aforementioned decantation also produces further waste materials, in the form of mud, which can in turn be recovered for other uses. Such mud become sedimented in a lower part of the accumulation apparatus of decanted oils 264, from which, by means of a mud extraction pump 265, through a mud duct 266, they are conveyed into the aforementioned collector of waste material 206, for example a drum, comprised in the module of extraction of vegetable oils 210.

It should be noted that, in further embodiments, in which oleiferous seeds of a different type are processed, to produce respective oils of a different type, the materials deriving from the decantation and collected in the collector 206 can be materials - other than waste - that can be used for other uses, like for example feedstuff, fertilizer or glycerine.

The decanted fuel oi ls are finally drawn u p from the accumulation apparatus of decanted oil 264 by means of a second pump for oil 267, and passed through a filtering stage, capable of filtering such decanted fuel oils (in particular, of filtering the aforementioned diatomaceous earth that blocked parts of residues in suspension in the oils) thus generating fuel oils ready for use. In the example of figure 3, the filtering stage comprises a first press filter with cloths 268 for oils, and a second safety filter 269 for oils, arranged in series.

It shou ld be noted th at, i n a n em bod i ment of th e i nvention , the transformation processes of vegetable oils into fuel oils, described above, output fuel oils having chemical-physical characteristics in accordance with the analytical parameters provided by Standards U N I/TS (of December 2009) referring to oils in class A.

I n accordance with a further embodiment, further substances can be added to said fuel oils, for example to keep such oils at a viscosity level such as to be able to be used immediately, when the combustion engine 320 is switched on, after a machine shut-off period. The ready-to-use fuel oils, generated by the transformation module 250 of the fuel generating assembly 200, and available downstream of the filtering stage 268, 269, are then conveyed through connection means 290 to the tank 310 of the main assembly for generating electric energy 300, in which they are stored, as already illustrated earlier in figure 1.

With reference again to figure 3, it should be noted that the parts of the fuel generating assembly 200, described above, are mounted in the container 100 (more specifically, they can be mounted on the first wall 101 of the container 100, either directly or through a base) and are connected together in an operative configuration , as illustrated above, already before transportation into an installation location.

With reference to the functional aspects of the system for generating electric energy 1 , described above, we will now describe a method for generating electric energy from vegetable materials, carried out through such a system.

Such a method comprises the steps of: supplying vegetable materials to an assembly for generating fuel 200 of the system 1 ; powering the assembly for generating fuel 200 with an energy of activation, by means of a solar energy collecting and converting assembly 400 of the system 1 ; extracting vegetable oils, from said vegetable materials, by means of a module of extraction 250 of vegetable oils from vegetable materials of the assembly for generating fuel 200; transforming the extracted vegetable oils into fuel oils, by means of a module of transformation of oils 250 of the assembly for generating fuel 200; providing a main assembly for generating electric energy 300 of the system 1 with said fuel oils; generating electric energy, by the main assembly 300, by means of an electric generator 330 activated by a combustion engine 320, fed by said fuel oils.

It shou ld be noted that such a meth od provides to carry out the aforementioned steps of supplying, powering, extracting, transforming, providing and generating while said assembly for generating fuel 200, main assembly for generating electric energy 300 and solar energy collecting and converting assembly 400 are connected to a support and containment structure 100 of the system 1 suitable for transporting the system 1 as a unit.

I n a further embodiment, the method provides that the assembly for generating fuel 200, the main assembly for generating electric energy 300 and the collecting and converting assembly 400 are operatively connected together, as already illustrated in detail, so that the system 1 can work in two different operating conditions, according to whether the assembly for generating fuel 200 is active or inactive.

The assembly for generating fuel 200 is active when it operates to generate fuel oils, which can take place when it is fed with raw material (for example oleiferous seeds) and at the same time it is powered by an electric energy of activation.

Therefore, in a first operating condition of the system 1 , in which the assembly for generating fuel 200 is active, the method accordi ng to the embodiment described here provides the steps of: supplying vegetable materials to an assembly for generating fuel 200; powering the assembly for generating fuel 200 with an energy of activation, by means of the collecting and converting assembly 400; extracting vegetable oils, from said vegetable materials, by means of the module of extraction 250 of vegetable oils from vegetable materials of the assembly for generating fuel 200; transforming the extracted vegetable oils into fuel oils, by means of a module of transformation of oils 250 of the assembly for generating fuel 200, so that, i n a n operati n g ti m e u n it, th e mod u le of transformation of oils 250 generates a total amount of fuel oils larger than a first amount of fuel oils consumed, in the same operating time unit, by a combustion engine 320 of a main assembly for generating electric energy 300 of the system 1 ; providing said main assembly for generating electric energy 300 with said total amount of fuel oils; feeding the combustion engine 320 with said first amount of fuel oils; storing as a fuel stock a second amount of fuel oils, in said operating time unit, equal to the difference between said total amount of fuel oils and said first amount of fuel oils; generating electric energy, by the main assembly 300, by means of an electric generator 330 activated by the combustion engine 320, fed by said first amount of fuel.

In a second operative condition of the system 1 in which the assembly for generating fuel 200 is inactive, the method comprises a step of generating electric energy, by the main assembly 300, by means of the electric generator 330 activated by the combustion engine 320, fed by said fuel stock, stored during said first operating condition of the system 1.

It should be noted that, in a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the fuel oils generated by the assembly for generating fuel 200 during the first operative step are stored in a tank 310 of the main assembly 300, which the combustion engine 320 draws upon, both during the first and during the second operative condition of the system 1.

I n a fu rth er em bod i ment of th e m eth od , th e mentioned step of transforming extracted vegetable oils into fuel oils comprises the steps of: transforming the extracted vegetable oils into raw fuel oils, through reactions in a reactor for oil 260; transforming the raw fuel oils into decanted fuel oils, through decantation, e.g., in an oil decanting equipment 262; transforming the decanted fuel oils into fuel oils through filtering, for example in a filtering stage 268, 269.

Some of the embodiments of the method, described above, benefit from the fact that the overall amount of fuel, in particular fuel oils, generated by the assembly for generati ng fuel 200 accord ing to the present invention , is substantially larger than the amount of fuel consumed on average by the engine 320.

In fact, when it is installed and operating, the assembly for generating fuel

200 of the present invention, as already described, for example with reference to figure 3, is typically able to produce about 20 kg/hour of fuel oils, treating about 60 kg/hour of oleiferous seeds.

Moreover, the yield of fuel oils of vegetable origin, thus produced, is such that the combustion engine 320 consumes about 8-9 kg/hour of such fuel oils to actuate the electric generator 330 so as to reach the amount of power typically required (for example, as already stated, 35-40 kW).

Therefore, the "second amount of fuel" of the method according to the present invention is accumulated with a rate of about 1 1 -12 kg/hour to form the mentioned fuel stock, from which the system 1 can draw while the assembly for generating fuel 200 is inactive.

Based on such quantitative example, it can be deduced that if the assembly for generating fuel 200 remains active just for about 10 hours per day (which at the typical latitudes of the context considered here, is less than the daylight hours in all seasons, and therefore less than the effective period of generation of energy of activation by the collecting and converting assembly 400), it is able to produce not only the fuel to make the electric generator 330 work during such a period, but also to generate a fuel stock such as to make the electric generator 330 work even during the remaining 14 hours. This implies that the described system is able to ensure continuous operation of the main assembly for generating electric energy, and therefore to generate electric energy continuously throughout a 24-hour day, thus ensuring, advantageously, energy self-sufficiency for the area in which it is installed.

It should be observed that, in addition to the quantitative example given, the system can be sized to operate also in the presence of a shorter period of activity of the assembly for generating fuel 200.

For example, in the case in which the main assembly is sized to produce 24 kW of power, the relative consumption of the combustion engine 320 reduces to about 5-6 kg/hour; therefore, the accumulation of fuel reserve takes place at a rate of about 14-15 kg/hour, which means that, in this case, about 8-9 hours of operation of the assembly for generating fuel 200 are able to produce enough fuel to allow operation of the main assembly 300 for an entire 24-hour day.

Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiment that provides the use of a battery pack, the electric activation energy is available not only when the collecting and converting assembly 400 is exposed to sunlight, as possible during the day, but also afterwards, on the basis of the electric energy previously charged in the battery pack by the collecting and converting assembly 400, during the period of activity thereof.

As can be seen, the main purpose of the present invention is achieved by the system for generating electric energy from vegetable materials described above, by virtue of its characteristics.

In fact, the system for generating electric energy of the present invention can be transported as a single unit, so that, having been completely assembled and prepared remotely, it can be easily and quickly moved wherever it is needed (in particular in remote areas lacking in infrastructures), by using standard transportation methods (for example by ship and/or lorry) and can be immediately operative in loco, without the need for further assembly or construction activities.

At the same time, the system for generating electric energy of the present invention achieves the further purpose of making the area, to which it is moved and installed, energy self-sufficient. In fact, such a system exclusively exploits renewable raw materials available in such an area, therefore being totally free from the constraints and drawbacks posed by conventional fossil fuels, in terms of cost and difficulty in obtaining a supply. Moreover, the system according to the present invention is able, as shown earlier, to ensure continuous generation of a constant amount of electric energy, both during daylight and during night.

A man skil led in the art can bri ng modifications, adaptations and replacements of elements with other functionally equivalent on es even i n conjunction with the prior art to the embodiments of the system for generating electric energy from vegetable material described above, in order to satisfy contingent requirements, even creating hybrid implementations, without departing from the scope of the following claims. Each of the characteristics described as belonging to a possible embodiment can be made independently from the other embodiments described.

Claims

1. System for generating electric energy (1 ) from vegetable materials, comprising:

- an assembly for generating fuel oils (200) comprising a mod ule of extraction (210) of vegetable oils from vegetable materials and a module of transformation (250) of the extracted vegetable oils into said fuel oils;

- a main assem bly for generating electric energy (300) comprising a combustion engine (320) and an electric generator (330) coupled to the combustion engine (320);

- a solar energy collecting and converting assembly (400), for converting solar energy into electric energy,

characterized in that:

- the assembly for generating fuel oils (200) is operatively connected to the main assembly for generating electric energy (300) so as to provide said fuel oils as a fuel for the combustion engine (320);

- the solar energy collecting and converting assembly (400) is operatively connected to the assembly for generating fuel oils (200) to supply electric energy of activation of the assembly for generating fuel oils (200);

and further characterized in that it comprises a support and containment structure (100) transportable as a single unit, in which said assembly for generating fuel oils (200), main assembly for generating electric energy (300) and solar energy collecting and converting assembly (400) are altogether housed so that the whole system for generating electric energy (1 ) is transportable as a single unit.

2. System (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein:

- the combustion engine (320) is configured to consume a first amount of fuel oils, in an operating time unit;

- the assembly for generating fuel oils (200) is configured to generate, when active, in said operating time unit, a total amount of fuel oils larger than said first amount of fuel oils consumed by the combustion engine (320) in the same operating time unit, so that a second amount of fuel oils, generated in the operating time unit by the assembly for generating fuel oils (200), equal to the difference between said total amount of fuel oils and said first amount of fuel oils, can be stored as a fuel stock.

3. System (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein the main assembly for generating electric energy (300) comprises a tank (310) connected through connecting means (290) to the assembly for generating fuel (200), and further connected to the combustion engine (320) through fuel feeding means (350), and wherein the system (1 ) is configured in such a way that:

- in a first operating condition in which the assembly for generating fuel (200) is active, said first amount of fuel oils is received, in said operating time unit, through the connecting means (290), in the tank (310) and is fed, through the fuel feeding means (350), to the combustion engine (320); said second amount of fuel oils is received, in said operating time unit, through the connecting means (290), and stored in the tank (310), to form said fuel stock;

- in a second operating condition in which the assembly for generating fuel

(200) is inactive, the combustion engine (320) is configured to draw fuel, through the fuel feeding means (350), from said fuel stock, to operate even while the assembly for generating fuel (200) is inactive.

4. System (1 ) according to claim 3, wherein the assembly for generating fuel oils (200) is active when it receives said electric energy of activation from the solar energy collecting and converting assembly (400).

5. System (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said vegetable materials are oleiferous seeds.

6. System (1 ) according to claim 5, wherein the assembly for generating fuel oils (200) comprises a press (203), configured to produce vegetable oils by pressing oleiferous seeds, a reactor (260) for transforming said vegetable oils into raw fuel oils, a decanting equipment (262) for transforming said raw fuel oils into decanted fuel oils and a filtering stage (268, 269) for transforming said decanted fuel oils into fuel oils.

7. System (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said combustion engine (320) is a diesel engine configured to operate being fed by vegetable-derived fuel oils.

8. System (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the main assembly for generating electric energy (300) comprises means for transmitting electric energy (340) to a local electric power distribution facility.

9. System (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the solar energy collecting and converting assembly (400) comprises photovoltaic panels.

1 0. System (1 ) according to claim 9, wherein the solar energy collecting and converting assembly (400) further comprises solar thermal panels.

1 1 . System (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the solar energy collecting and converting assembly (400) is further operatively connected to the main assembly for generating electric energy (300) to supply electric energy of activation of the main assembly (300).

12. System (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the support and containment structure (100) comprises a plurality of walls, so that:

- in a transport configuration of the system (1 ), the support and containment structure (100) is completely closed, so that the entire system for generating electric energy (1 ) is contai ned therein and com pletely separated from the external environment by said plurality of walls of the support and containment structure (100);

- in a working configuration of the system (1 ), one or more of said plurality of walls of the support and containment structure (100) are configured to be opened and/or partially or completely removed, so as to allow the solar energy collecting and converting assembly (400) to be exposed to sunlight and to allow the input of vegetable material, intended to feed the module of extraction (210) of the assembly for generating fuel oils (200).

1 3. System (1 ) according to claim 12, wherein the support and containment structure (100) is substantially parallelepiped-shaped, and said plurality of walls of the support and containment structure (100) comprises:

- a first wall (101 ), intended to form a main support for the mounting of the assembly for generating fuel (200) and of the main assembly for generating electric energy (300);

- a second wall (102), parallel and opposite with respect to the first wall (101 ), intended to cover the system (1 ) on its top part.

- a third wall (103), on a side next to which the assembly for generating fuel (200) is housed;

- a fou rth wall ( 1 04), on a side next to which the mai n assembly for generating electric energy (300) is housed;

- a fifth wall (105) and a sixth wall (106).

14. System (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the support and containment structure (100) complies to a standard for container used for transporting goods by trucks, trains or ships.

15. Method for generating electric energy from vegetable materials, by means of a system (1 ) for generating electric energy, comprising the steps of:

- supplying vegetable materials to an assembly for generating fuel (200) of the system (1 );

- powering the assembly for generating fuel (200) with an energy of activation, by means of a solar energy collecting and converting assembly (400) of the system (1 );

- extracting vegetable oils, from said vegetable materials, by means of a mod ule of extraction (250) of vegetable oils from vegetable materials of the assembly for generating fuel (200);

- transforming the extracted vegetable oils into fuel oils, by means of a module of transformation of oils (250) of the assembly for generating fuel (200);

- providing a main assembly for generating electric energy (300) of the system (1 ) with said fuel oils;

- generating electric energy, by the main assembly (300), by means of an electric generator (330) activated by a combustion engine (320), fed by said fuel oils;

the method being characterized in that it comprises the step of:

- carryi n g out the above-mentioned supplying, powering, extracting, transforming, providing, generating steps, while said assembly for generating fuel

(200), main assembly for generating electric assembly (300), solar energy collecting and converting assembly (400) are connected to a support and containment structure (100) suitable for transporting the system (1 ) as a single unit.

16. Method according to claim 15, comprising, in a first operating condition of the system (1 ), the steps of:

- supplying vegetable materials to the assembly for generating fuel (200);

- powering the assem bly for generating fuel (200) with an energy of activation, by means of the collecting and converting assembly (400);

- extracting vegetable oils, from said vegetable materials, by means of the module of extraction (250);

- transforming the extracted vegetable oils into fuel oils, by means of the module of transformation of oils (250) so that, in an operating time unit, the module of transformation of oils (250) generates a total amount of fuel oils larger than a first amount of fuel oils consumed, in the same operating time unit, by the combustion engine (320) of the main assembly (300);

- providing said main assembly for generating electric energy (300) with said total amount of fuel oils;

- feeding the combustion engine (320) with said first amount of fuel oils;

- storing as a fuel stock a second amount of fuel oils, in said operating time unit, equal to the difference between said total amount of fuel oils and said first amount of fuel oils;

- generating electric energy, by the main assembly (300), by means of an electric generator (330) activated by the combustion engine (320), fed by said first amount of fuel;

the method further comprising, in a second operating condition of the system (1 ) in which the assembly for generating fuel (200) does not receive the electric energy of activation, the step of:

- generating electric energy, by the main assembly (300), by means of the electric generator (330) activated by the combustion engine (320), fed by said fuel stock, stored during said first operating condition of the system (1 ).