Power Generation And Storage Apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for the localized capture, storage and specialized use of power generated from natural sources, such as solar power or hydropower. The apparatus can be used, for example, or in or near commercial or residential buildings, vehicles, marine vessels, a wind farm turbine tower, or in a solar park or photovoltaic power station, or anywhere there is a requirement for localized power generation, localized storage and wider distribution of power.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the conversion of power from a natural energy source into electricity, and the storage and distribution of the electricity, the apparatus comprising: i) one or more first devices able to convert power from a natural energy source into electricity; ii) one or more second devices able to store the electricity generated by the one or more first devices; iii) a third device able to direct the electricity from the one or more first devices to the one or more second devices; iv) a fourth device able to distribute the electricity from the apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more first devices comprise one or more photovoltaic cells, and/or a hydrogen fuel cell.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more first devices comprise a perovskite material.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second device comprises one or more batteries and one or more supercapacitors, or one or more devices for storing hydrogen.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the one or more supercapacitors comprise one or more materials selected from one or more perovskite compounds, one or more metal oxides, nanotubes of a conductive material or metal oxides, an aqueous graphene-enhanced material, or an amount of a bismuth-containing material.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third device comprises a printed circuit board.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fourth device comprises three sub-layers therein.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the sub-layers include an electrically conductive sub-layer sandwiched between a second sub-layer and a third sub-layer, both second and third sub-layers being substantially electrically non-conductive.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the conductive sub-layer comprises copper and/or a composite alloy material.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the composite alloy material comprises one or more of a rare earth magnetic metal, copper, copper oxide, graphene, graphene oxide, cobalt and/or nickel.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the electrically conductive sub-layer comprises a flexible conductive mesh structure.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is in the form of a tile or panel.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a layer of a protective material protecting the apparatus from its environment.

14. (canceled)

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the one or more first devices are either contained within the protective material or are positioned underneath it.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises quantum dots and/or a dye material.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a layered structure, with the one or more first devices being positioned proximal to the natural energy source and forming a first layer; the third device being positioned underneath the one or more first devices and forming a second layer; the one or more second devices being positioned underneath the third device and the one or more first devices and forming a third layer; and the fourth device being positioned distal to the natural energy source and underneath the first, second and third devices and forming a fourth layer.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a housing containing the first, second, third and fourth devices, the housing comprising a resin material containing an amount of one or more of graphene oxide, boron nitride, fire retardant additives, carbon black and/or graphite.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the housing comprises a conductive material and/or a self-repairing inhibitor located on its exterior.

20. An array comprising a plurality of apparatuses according to claim 1 interconnected with each other.

21. The array according to claim 20, wherein electrical power is stored in a battery located within a battery cell.

22. The array according to claim 20, wherein the array is operated in conjunction with one or more energy management cells, the one or more energy management cells each comprising a printed circuit board, which controls the flow of electricity across the array.

23. A marine vessel comprising one or more apparatuses according to claim 1.

24. A method of generating and storing power comprising employing one or more apparatuses according to claim 1.

25. (canceled)

Description

[0119] The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the following figures which are intended to be illustrative only and in no way limiting upon the scope of the invention.

[0120] FIG. 1 depicts a cluster of seven apparatuses of the invention joined together from above;

[0121] FIG. 2 depicts a cluster of seven apparatuses of the invention joined together from underneath; and

[0122] FIG. 3 depicts an assembly of an apparatus of the invention with a top tile and lower tile assembly.

[0123] In FIG. 1, a small cluster of seven apparatuses 2 of the invention joined together is shown from an overhead perspective. The apparatuses have a hexagonal shape, purely for ease of combining and joining a number of them together, and together they form a neat geometrical shape. Surrounding the cluster of apparatuses is an edging 4.

[0124] On each apparatus can be seen a number of PV cells 6 to absorb the solar radiation.

[0125] In FIG. 2, the same small cluster of seven apparatuses 2 of the invention joined together is shown from an underneath perspective. The apparatuses are connected by connecting means 8.

[0126] In FIG. 3, the first layer 10 with the PV cells 6 is shown over the lower layers, to give a perspective on how the layers and the adjacent apparatuses are connected together to form an array.

[0127] It is of course to be understood that the present invention is not intended to be restricted to the foregoing examples which are described by way of example only.