GB2388974A - A solar power generation and illumination system - Google Patents

A solar power generation and illumination system Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2388974A
GB2388974A GB0301320A GB0301320A GB2388974A GB 2388974 A GB2388974 A GB 2388974A GB 0301320 A GB0301320 A GB 0301320A GB 0301320 A GB0301320 A GB 0301320A GB 2388974 A GB2388974 A GB 2388974A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
lamp
inverter
circuit breaker
ambient light
solar
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0301320A
Other versions
GB0301320D0 (en
Inventor
David Morgan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SOLARGEN SOLUTIONS Ltd
Original Assignee
SOLARGEN SOLUTIONS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SOLARGEN SOLUTIONS Ltd filed Critical SOLARGEN SOLUTIONS Ltd
Priority to GB0301320A priority Critical patent/GB2388974A/en
Publication of GB0301320D0 publication Critical patent/GB0301320D0/en
Publication of GB2388974A publication Critical patent/GB2388974A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S9/00—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply
    • F21S9/02—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a battery or accumulator
    • F21S9/03—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a battery or accumulator rechargeable by exposure to light
    • F21S9/032—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a battery or accumulator rechargeable by exposure to light the solar unit being separate from the lighting unit
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
    • F21V23/04—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
    • F21V23/0442—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
    • H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
    • H05B47/105—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters
    • H05B47/11—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2131/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems not provided for in codes F21W2102/00-F21W2121/00
    • F21W2131/10—Outdoor lighting
    • F21W2131/103—Outdoor lighting of streets or roads
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B20/00—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
    • Y02B20/40—Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B20/00—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
    • Y02B20/72—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps in street lighting

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Circuit Arrangement For Electric Light Sources In General (AREA)

Abstract

A solar power generation and illumination system includes a lamp (2) and a solar panel (20) mounted on top of a common lamp post (4). The lamp (2) is supplied with power from a source (10) in the form of the national grid through a circuit breaker (14). A DC to AC inverter (22) supplies power from the solar panel (20) to the source (10) through the circuit breaker. An interface unit 26 coupled to the inverter (22) allows data concerning the power fed back to the source (10) from the solar panel (20) to be downloaded. The lamp (2) includes an ambient light switch (8) which switches the lamp (2) ON or OFF in response to ambient lighting conditions.

Description

A solar power generation and illumination system The present invention
relates to solar power generation and illumination systems.
Solar power can be used to feed power to the national grid or to power independent electrical installations such as remote telephone stations and lighting systems where power from the national grid is not readily available.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved solar power generation and illumination system.
According to the present invention, there is provided a solar power generation and illumination system comprising, a solar receiver for converting solar power into DC electricity, a lamp for illuminating a predetermined area, support means for supporting both the lamp and the receiver in an elevated location, a DC to AC inverter for converting the output of the receiver to AC, circuit breaker means for connecting the lamp and the output of the inverter to an AC source, and central means response to ambient light conditions to connect the lamp to the circuit breaker means when the ambient light conditions fall below a predetermined level and to disconnect the lamp from the circuit breaker means when the ambient light rise above said predetermined level.
A solar power and illumination system embodying the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing in which the sole figure is a block diagram of a solar power generation and illumination system.
As shown in figure 1 the solar power generation and illumination system includes a street lamp 2 mounted on a post 4 and operating at mains voltage of 240 V and frequency of 50 c/s. The lamp 2 incorporates a reflector 6 which directs light downwardly. A photo sensitive switch 8 connected in series with the lamp is mounted above the reflector 6 and monitors ambient light above the reflector. When the light drops below a predetermined reference level the switch 8 is closed and the street lamp 2 is turned ON. When the light rises above the predetermined reference level the switch 8 is opened and the street lamp 2 is turned OFF. The predetermined reference level is set so that switching occurs at dawn and dusk. The series combination of lamp 2 and switch 8 is connected to a mains (national grid) supply 10 through one switch pair 12 of a ganged circuit breaker 14.
( A solar panel is mounted on the upper end portion of the same post 4. The panel 20 consists of an array of 72 solar cells connected in series which can generate a peak output power in the range of from 80 to 120 watts. The panel may take the form of polycrystalline silicon cells bonded to a shatter proof laminate and mounted on an aluminium support.
The output of the solar generator is connected to a small sized high performance DC to AC inverter 22. The AC output of the inverter 22 is at mains voltage and frequency and connected via a second switch pair 24 of the ganged circuit breaker 24 to the supply 10.
The inverter 22 is preferably an OK 4-100 inverter manufactured by Daniel Oranje Pty Ltd. Australia. This inverter includes control circuitry (not shown) which optimises power transfer from the solar panel 20 to the supply 10 by means of a maximum power point tracking algorithm (MPPT). It also monitors the mains voltage phase and frequency to adjust the output from the inverter so as to be able to transfer the energy into the mains without distortion. The inverter 20 also includes a monitoring system (not shown) which monitors the total amount of power allocated to the supply 10, the actual internal temperature of the inverter, the RMS value of the current being fed to the mains, the measured mains voltage and Frequency and the DC output voltage of the panel 20. The inverter 22 is connected to serial interface module 26. The interface module is preferably an RS 485 serial data interface module manufactured by Daniel Oranje Ply Ltd Australia.
The circuit breaker 14 includes a mechanical toggle 26 linked to the ganged switches 12 and 24 for opening or closing the switches.
En operation during daylight hours with the switches 12 and 24 closed, the lamp 2 will be switched OFF by the switch 8 and the solar panel 20 will be delivering power to the inverter 22. The inverter 22 in tum will be feeding power to the supply 10 and at the same time measuring the amount of power that is being transferred to the mains supply 10.
During the hours of darkness the output of the panel 20 will fall below a predetermined reference level and when this happens the inverter 22 will switch OFF and cease to transfer power to the mains supply 10. Instead power from the mains will be fed to the lamp 2 via the now closed switch 8 and so the lamp will illuminate the area below it.
Periodically data is downloaded from the interface 26 so that the owner of the lamp 2 can be credited with the amount of power supplied to the mains. Depending upon the siting of the post 4 and the time of year there should be a net transfer of power from the
( system to the mains supply 10 making a positive contribution to the running costs of the system. It will be appreciated that lamp post 4 provides an ideal location for both illuminating an area below as well as providing a location at its upper end on which the panel 20 can be mounted to receive the greatest amount of ambient light unobstructed by buildings and other obstacles located closer to ground level.
The ganged circuit breaker 14 also provides good isolation for the system, for servicing, taking readings of power supplied and general work to be carried out.
The lamp 2' the reflector 6, the switch X and the panel may be manufactured as an integral unit and mounted on the post as a unitary assembly. The inverter 22, the interface 26 and the circuit breaker 14 may be housed in a hollow chamber within the post at a lower level and may be accessed through a locked door panel (not shown).
Instead where the lighting system is used in locations of difficult weather conditions the inverter 22, the interface and the circuit breaker 14 may be housed in a container buried or partially housed underground.
In a modification the system may include a battery reservoir for storing power Dom the solar generator. The lamp 2 may advantageously comprise a 1 2V ES fluorescent energy saving lamp.

Claims (6)

Claims
1. A solar power generation and illumination system comprising, a solar receiver for converting solar power into DC electricity, a lamp for illuminating a predetermined area, support means for supporting both the lamp and the receiver in an elevated location, a DC to AC inverter for converting the output of the receiver to AC, circuit breaker means for connecting the lamp and the output of the inverter to an AC source, and central means response to ambient light conditions to connect the lamp to the circuit breaker means when the ambient light conditions fall below a predetermined level and to disconnect the lamp from the circuit breaker means when the ambient light rise above said predetermined level.
2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the inverter is shut down when the ambient light conditions fall below said predetermined level.
3. A system according to claim 1 as to claim 2 wherein said support means comprises a support post.
4. A system according to any one of claims I to 3 wherein said solar receiver comprises a panel having an array of photovoltaic cells.
5. A system according to any preceding claim wherein said inverter includes means for monitoring the voltage, the frequency and the phase of said AC source, and wherein said control means is responsive to said monitoring means to control the output of the inverter to match the monitored values.
6. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the inverter includes means for monitoring the amount of power supplied to the AC source and a serial interface unit through which the data on the power supplied can be downloaded.
7 A system according to any preceding claim wherein the inverter and the circuit breaker means are housed in a chamber, at least partially buried underground.
! 8. A solar power generator and illumination system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB0301320A 2003-01-21 2003-01-21 A solar power generation and illumination system Withdrawn GB2388974A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0301320A GB2388974A (en) 2003-01-21 2003-01-21 A solar power generation and illumination system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0301320A GB2388974A (en) 2003-01-21 2003-01-21 A solar power generation and illumination system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0301320D0 GB0301320D0 (en) 2003-02-19
GB2388974A true GB2388974A (en) 2003-11-26

Family

ID=9951494

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0301320A Withdrawn GB2388974A (en) 2003-01-21 2003-01-21 A solar power generation and illumination system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2388974A (en)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2912005A1 (en) * 2007-01-30 2008-08-01 Blachere Illumination Soc Par Decoration system for use in e.g. frontage of building, has control circuit connecting light sources to electrical network as long as battery does not deliver sufficient voltage for supplying light sources
GB2449102A (en) * 2007-05-10 2008-11-12 Clive Nicholas Jordan Urban power generation platform for use on street lampposts
DE102007041842A1 (en) * 2007-08-27 2009-03-05 Swb Netze Gmbh & Co. Kg Street lighting controlling method, involves providing generated electrical energy as alternating voltage by inverter module for supplying into mains supply of electrical line from photovoltaic generator to network connection
ES2341634A1 (en) * 2008-03-31 2010-06-23 Jose Manuel Martinez Santiago Electrical installation for the contribution of energy to the electrical distribution network (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
EP2236913A1 (en) * 2009-04-01 2010-10-06 Gianni Quinzi Photovoltaic system on a public lamp post with energy recovery
ITPD20090305A1 (en) * 2009-10-26 2011-04-27 Igor Stavitskiy PHOTOVOLTAIC GENERATOR, INTERFACED WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM
WO2011114284A1 (en) 2010-03-15 2011-09-22 Spi Tecno S.R.L. Street lamp system
ITPG20110016A1 (en) * 2011-08-18 2013-02-19 Lucio Accardo LAMP OR PHOTO GENERATOR WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC AND / OR WIND POWER SUPPLY, USED TO FEED THE ELECTRICAL NETWORK WITHOUT THE USE OF BATTERIES OR ENERGY ACCUMULATORS.
ITBA20120064A1 (en) * 2012-10-31 2014-05-01 Filippo Intreccio ROAD LIGHTING ARMOR AND FOR ANY OTHER OUTDOOR SPACE: "PV-LED", ACTIVE AND PASSIVE WITH THE DOUBLE FUNCTION OF PRODUCING ELECTRICITY DAY AND USE IT IN THE EVENING.
US20150189705A1 (en) * 2012-08-08 2015-07-02 Rohit GHOST Device for generating electricity by harnessing solar energy and method thereof
EP2982900A1 (en) 2014-08-08 2016-02-10 Alfredo Chiacchieroni Pole having external photovoltaic panels
CN105444101A (en) * 2015-12-21 2016-03-30 江门市新会区光敏太阳能科技有限公司 Solar integrated lamp with infrared remote control
CN110173648A (en) * 2019-05-08 2019-08-27 平潭煜想时代科技有限公司 Based on without battery pass through the grid-connected solar street light of alternating current and its control method

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH09271176A (en) * 1996-03-29 1997-10-14 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Power-system linked inverter device, and waveform generating device
DE19723617A1 (en) * 1997-06-05 1998-12-10 Solartechnik R Pfister Lighting installation for streets, plaza and objects
DE20004250U1 (en) * 2000-03-10 2000-09-07 Solartechnik R Pfister Luminaire for streets and squares
US20020149955A1 (en) * 2000-01-18 2002-10-17 Lumsden John L. Method and apparatus for a solar power conditioner

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH09271176A (en) * 1996-03-29 1997-10-14 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Power-system linked inverter device, and waveform generating device
DE19723617A1 (en) * 1997-06-05 1998-12-10 Solartechnik R Pfister Lighting installation for streets, plaza and objects
US20020149955A1 (en) * 2000-01-18 2002-10-17 Lumsden John L. Method and apparatus for a solar power conditioner
DE20004250U1 (en) * 2000-03-10 2000-09-07 Solartechnik R Pfister Luminaire for streets and squares

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2912005A1 (en) * 2007-01-30 2008-08-01 Blachere Illumination Soc Par Decoration system for use in e.g. frontage of building, has control circuit connecting light sources to electrical network as long as battery does not deliver sufficient voltage for supplying light sources
GB2449102A (en) * 2007-05-10 2008-11-12 Clive Nicholas Jordan Urban power generation platform for use on street lampposts
DE102007041842A1 (en) * 2007-08-27 2009-03-05 Swb Netze Gmbh & Co. Kg Street lighting controlling method, involves providing generated electrical energy as alternating voltage by inverter module for supplying into mains supply of electrical line from photovoltaic generator to network connection
ES2341634A1 (en) * 2008-03-31 2010-06-23 Jose Manuel Martinez Santiago Electrical installation for the contribution of energy to the electrical distribution network (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
EP2236913A1 (en) * 2009-04-01 2010-10-06 Gianni Quinzi Photovoltaic system on a public lamp post with energy recovery
ITPD20090305A1 (en) * 2009-10-26 2011-04-27 Igor Stavitskiy PHOTOVOLTAIC GENERATOR, INTERFACED WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM
WO2011114284A1 (en) 2010-03-15 2011-09-22 Spi Tecno S.R.L. Street lamp system
EP2749811A1 (en) 2010-03-15 2014-07-02 SPI Tecno S.r.l. Safety device for a street lamp system
US9480132B2 (en) 2010-03-15 2016-10-25 Spi Tecno S.R.L. Safety device for a street lamp system
ITPG20110016A1 (en) * 2011-08-18 2013-02-19 Lucio Accardo LAMP OR PHOTO GENERATOR WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC AND / OR WIND POWER SUPPLY, USED TO FEED THE ELECTRICAL NETWORK WITHOUT THE USE OF BATTERIES OR ENERGY ACCUMULATORS.
US20150189705A1 (en) * 2012-08-08 2015-07-02 Rohit GHOST Device for generating electricity by harnessing solar energy and method thereof
ITBA20120064A1 (en) * 2012-10-31 2014-05-01 Filippo Intreccio ROAD LIGHTING ARMOR AND FOR ANY OTHER OUTDOOR SPACE: "PV-LED", ACTIVE AND PASSIVE WITH THE DOUBLE FUNCTION OF PRODUCING ELECTRICITY DAY AND USE IT IN THE EVENING.
EP2982900A1 (en) 2014-08-08 2016-02-10 Alfredo Chiacchieroni Pole having external photovoltaic panels
CN105444101A (en) * 2015-12-21 2016-03-30 江门市新会区光敏太阳能科技有限公司 Solar integrated lamp with infrared remote control
CN110173648A (en) * 2019-05-08 2019-08-27 平潭煜想时代科技有限公司 Based on without battery pass through the grid-connected solar street light of alternating current and its control method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0301320D0 (en) 2003-02-19

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)