ES1299653U - Solar Energy Collection Pool Safety Cover System - Google Patents

Abstract

Solar energy collection pool safety cover system (10), wherein the system (10) comprises - a roller (11) arranged to be mounted adjacent to a pool (1), - a safety cover (20) connected to said roller (11) at a first end edge (20.1) and arranged to be wound on said roller (11), said safety cover (20) comprises means (14) for joining at least one opposite second end edge (20.2) from said safety cover (20) to a second opposite side (1.2) of the pool (1), - flexible photovoltaic solar panels (21) integrated into said safety cover (20), and - means (17) for rotating said roller (11).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Solar Energy Collection Pool Safety Cover System

field of invention

The invention relates to a solar energy collection pool safety cover system.

Background of the invention

The prevalence of photovoltaic solar panels on the roofs of private homes has increased sharply in recent years. The same thing happens on roofs of other types of buildings. Placing solar panels on existing infrastructure such as buildings is desirable because otherwise unused area is used rather than taking up land elsewhere. In the future it is likely that unused surfaces that are angled so that they receive the sun will increasingly be used to collect energy from the sun. Therefore, solutions are needed that facilitate the use of new surfaces to collect energy from the sun.

Compendium of the invention

The invention relates to a solar energy collection pool safety cover system. The system comprises:

- a roller arranged to be mounted adjacent to a swimming pool,

- a safety cover connected to said roller at a first end edge and arranged to wrap around said roller, said safety cover comprising means for attaching at least a second opposite end edge of said safety cover to a second opposite side of the pool ,

- flexible photovoltaic solar panels integrated into said safety cover, and - means for rotating said roller.

The safety cover with integrated flexible photovoltaic solar panels is arranged so that it can be rolled up and down from the roller to uncover and cover the pool. This way it can collect energy from the sun when the pool is not in use while also covering the pool and keeping it safe from children, animals etc. do not fall into the pool (bathing pool in most cases).

The system is most conveniently used with a square or rectangular pool but can be adapted for use with pools of other shapes. The safety cover is it can then be formed according to the shape of the pool and include connection points so that it can be pressed onto the surface of the water.

Even for a rectangular pool it is most preferred that at least three of the four side edges of the safety cover connect to corresponding sides of the pool. Additionally, the first edge connected to the roller is also connected to or near the edge by means of the roller. This type of arrangement will securely tighten the safety cover over the water surface in the pool.

The roller can be locked in order to tighten the safety cover on the surface of the water in the pool.

Flexible photovoltaic panels are preferably electrically connected to the mains, batteries and/or consumers by means of a slip ring between the roller and the roller support.

Flexible photovoltaic panels are commercially available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and also with various bending radii.

Means for rotating said roller may be rotation means such as an electric motor arranged to rotate the roller or a handle and ring gears arranged to manually rotate the roller.

The system may further comprise:

- a channel for circulation of liquid, the channel is integrated into said safety cover, said channel is arranged so that the liquid circulating in the channel is heated by convection heat from said integrated flexible photovoltaic solar panels and radiant heat from the sun ,

- a heat exchanger in fluid communication with said channel, and

- a pump arranged to circulate liquid in a circuit between the heat exchanger and the channel in the safety cover.

Solar panels do not cover 100% of the security cover where the channel is integrated, therefore the liquid inside the channel will be heated by radiant heat from the sun (where the security cover is not covered by solar panels) and by heat convection (where the security cover is covered by solar panels).

The safety cover can be dark in color to absorb more radiant heat from the sun. In particular it is desirable that the parts of the safety cover which are not covered by solar panels have a dark color or are completely black.

The person skilled in the art will understand that in order for the pump to circulate liquid between the heat exchanger and the channel in the safety cover there may be a need for tubes and/or hoses to transport the liquid between the pump and the channels and between the pump and the heat exchanger.

The efficiency of photovoltaic solar panels is related to the temperature of the panels, when the solar panels overheat the efficiency is significantly reduced. Solar panels are generally tested at 25°C and the rated output of the panel is generally the effect it gives at 25°C. When the temperature of the solar panels reaches approximately 65 °C the efficiency of the solar panel decreases rapidly. Thus, cooling solar panels can dramatically increase efficiency compared to letting the panel temperature rise much above 25°C. It is normally desirable to keep the water temperature in a swimming pool between 25 and 28°C. On a sunny summer day, the temperature of a solar panel will typically rise above 28°C.

Including a channel to circulate water (or other liquids) in the safety cover allows cooling the solar panels and heating water (or other liquids). The heated water can be used for pool heating, house heating, tap water heating, or similar uses. This can be done directly or by means of a heat pump. An example of direct heating is a continuous loop from the channel in the safety cover through hoses to a submerged heat exchanger in the pool. Circulation in the circuit is maintained using the pump.

The channel integrated in the safety cover should preferably have a large surface area so that it acts as an efficient heat exchanger both for exchanging convective heat from the panels and radiant heat from the sun. The surface area can be maximized in many ways, for example by arranging the channel so that it is always possible to lay it down in a pattern that covers the majority of the area of the safety cover. The safety cover is preferably dark in color between the panels where it is exposed to direct sunlight. Most of the safety cover is preferably will be covered by solar panels, but there will be areas between and near the shoreline that are not covered by panels.

To connect for fluid transmission the channel in the safety cover to the heat exchanger the channels are connected with a hose to connection points on the roller, one for inflow and one for outflow. The connection points can be placed in a recess in the roller, so that the safety cover can be rolled onto the roller over the connection points. When the safety cover is fully unrolled from the roller, the connection points are uncovered, and the hoses can be connected to the connection point so that the channel in the safety cover is in fluid connection with the heat exchanger and the circulation pump. Alternatively, the connection point is placed at one end of the roller.

The system may further comprise a heat pump system arranged to use liquid heated from the channel.

The liquid heated in the channels can be used directly by means of the heat exchanger to for example heat the swimming pool (as described above) or by means of a heat pump system to increase the temperature above the water temperature. that circulates in the channels. This will enable both more efficient cooling from the solar panels and more efficient heating where needed. The heat exchanger in fluid contact with the channel will then contact the heat pump system, and another heat exchanger will be placed in contact with the heat pump where the heat is needed, for example in the swimming pool.

The heat pump system can be fully or partially powered by energy from flexible photovoltaic solar panels.

If the heat pump is fully powered by flexible solar panels, this allows for efficient heating of a pool without the need for a connection to the electricity grid. This will be a desirable configuration for a pool in a remote location where it is not possible or expensive to connect to the electrical power grid. Whether or not connection to the mains is possible and whether or not the heat pump is partially or totally driven by the power of the flexible solar panels the system will reduce energy expenditure for heating a swimming pool.

The integrated flexible photovoltaic solar panels can be arranged located at a distance from each other so that parts of the safety cover, which have the integrated channel, are exposed to direct radiant heat from the sun. The part of the safety cover that is exposed to direct radiant heat from the sun is from 5% to 50% of the total area of the safety cover, preferably between 10% and 25%.

The safety cover may comprise two separate channel circuits, one to cool the panels, and one to absorb radiant heat from the sun. The channel circuit arranged to cool the panels is arranged in the security cover below the panels and where as the channel circuit arranged to absorb radiation heat from the sun is arranged in the security cover between the panels.

By having to separate channel circuits, it is possible to optimize the water heating and the cooling of the panels (convection heat collection of the panels). It is desirable that the liquid in the channel circuit that is in contact with the panels maintains a lower temperature and this circuit can therefore be arranged to exchange heat with the heat exchanger closest to the cold inlet in the heat exchanger in a heat pump system. In a system without a heat pump system the two channel circuits can have separate heat exchangers submerged in the pool.

In an alternative embodiment the system can be arranged to circulate water from the pool instead of any other liquid, the system can then comprise:

- a channel for circulation of water from the pool, the channel is integrated into said safety cover, said channel is arranged so that water circulating in the channel is heated by convection heat from said integrated flexible photovoltaic solar panels and radiant heat of the sun, and

- a pump in fluid communication with the pool and the channel, and arranged to circulate water in a circuit between the pool and the channel in the safety cover.

An advantage of circulating the water from the pool is that the system is less complex and provides efficient heating of the pool and efficient cooling of the panels.

Solar panels do not cover 100% of the safety cover where the channel is integrated, therefore the liquid inside the channel will be heated by radiant heat from the sun (where the cover security cover is not covered by solar panels) and by convection heat (where the security cover is covered by solar panels).

The safety cover can be dark in color to absorb more radiant heat from the sun. In particular it is desirable that the parts of the safety cover which are not covered by solar panels have a dark color or are completely black.

The person skilled in the art will understand that in order for the pump to circulate liquid between the heat exchanger and the channel in the safety cover there may be a need for tubes and/or hoses to transport the liquid between the pump and the channels and between the pump and the heat exchanger.

The pump can be a conventional swimming pool pump and the system can be arranged to circulate the water from the swimming pool through a conventional swimming pool filter system in the circuit between the swimming pool and the channel.

The integrated flexible photovoltaic solar panels can be arranged located at a distance from each other so that parts of the safety cover, which have the integrated channel, are exposed to direct radiant heat from the sun, wherein the part of the safety cover that is exposed to direct radiant heat from the sun is between 5% and 50% of the total area of the safety cover, preferably between 10% and 25%.

Description of the diagrams

Figure 1 schematically shows a swimming pool and the solar energy collection pool safety cover system partly in section from the side.

Figure 2 schematically shows a swimming pool and solar energy collection pool safety cover system from above. The safety cover is only half unrolled, covering only part of the pool.

Figure 3 schematically shows a swimming pool and solar energy collection pool safety cover system from above. The safety cover here is completely unrolled from the roller, so that the pool is completely covered. The safety cover also connects to the ground around the pool, the roller is locked. Hoses for circulating liquid through the channel in the safety cover are connected to the pump.

In Figure 2 and 3 the cover is shown transparent so that the pool and details below are visible, it will not actually be transparent.

Figure 4 shows a part of the safety cover in section.

Description of preferred embodiments of the invention

Figure 1 shows the solar energy collecting pool safety cover system 10 (referred to as system 10) mounted on a swimming pool 1. Safety cover 20 is unrolled from roller 11 and safety cover 20 is secured to the ground at the side outside of the pool 1. The roller 11 is locked to keep the safety cover 20 stretched, so that it deforms as little as possible in case a person walks or falls on the safety cover.

The safety cover 20 is arranged like any other swimming pool safety cover to prevent people, in particular children, from falling into the pool 1. Additionally, this safety cover 20 has built-in means for collecting solar energy 21,23 and thus using an area previously not used for this purpose. The collected energy can be used to heat the pool 1 or for any other purpose.

The embodiment shown in the figures has both flexible photovoltaic solar panels 21 and channels 23 for circulating liquid in the safety cover 20 to directly heat the liquid using the sun 3. The liquid will in most cases be water, so the The term water is used in the rest of the text.

Channels 23 are connected to heat exchanger 13 by hoses 23.1, 23.2, one for circulating cold water 23.1 and one for return 23.2 of heated water. The water in this embodiment goes to a swimming pool heat exchanger 13 where heat is exchanged from the heated water to the relatively cooler water in swimming pool 1, before being looped back via pump 12 to safety cover 20 for be heated once more. Pump 12 maintains the circulation.

The water hoses 23.1 and 23.2 are manually connected to the roller 11 after the safety cover 20 of the roller 11 is completely rolled up. The electric current from the solar panels 21 is transferred through conductors to the roller 11 and out of the roller 11 by means of of a slip ring 15 (seen in Figures 2 and 3), so that the electrical connection can be in place even when roller 11 is rotated. Alternatively, to avoid the need for a slip ring 15 the roller 11 it could be equipped with a socket that could be plugged in after unrolling the safety cover 20.

The diameter of the roller 11 must be adapted to how much the safety cover 20 can be bent. In particular flexible solar panels 21 have a limitation on how much they can be bent.

Figure 2 shows the system 10 and the pool 1 from above. The safety cover 20 does not completely unwind from the roller 11, so even the safety cover 20 does not completely cover the pool 1.

In Figure 3 the safety cover is completely covering the pool 1 and secured to the ground or structure surrounding the pool 1. The unit containing the pump 12 is positioned next to the roller 11 so that the water hoses 23.1 and 23.2 are can easily connect.

The safety cover 20 in Figures 2 and 3 appears as transparent, but is for illustration purposes only.

Figure 4 shows a part of the safety cover 20 in section. Above (the side surface intended to face the sun) it has integrated flexible photovoltaic solar panels 21 facing the sun 3. Below the solar panels 21 there is at least one channel 23 for circulating liquid. Whether it is one continuous channel or several, they are preferably arranged in a pattern so as to cover as much area of the safety cover 20 as possible. The solar panels 21 and the channel 23 are preferably separated only by a top layer 22 which may be in the form of a strong thin sheet that is optimized to transfer convective heat from the solar panels to the liquid in the channel 23.

In an alternative embodiment, water from the pool 1 is circulated in a circuit between the pool and the channel (23). This embodiment is not shown in the figures, but will be similar to what is seen in Figure 1. The difference is that the heat exchanger 13 is not required. Instead of an inlet and an outlet to the heat exchanger 13 it will be an inlet and an outlet to pool 1. An outlet from pool 1 to pump water 2 from pool 1 to channel 23 using pump 12 and an inlet to the pool 1 to return the water 2 from channel 23 back to pool 1.

In such a configuration as pump 12 an existing conventional pool pump can be used and the water 2 can be passed through an existing pool filter system already installed in any pool 1. Thus the existing pump and filter system that found in any pool can be used and only minor changes are needed to be used for the purpose of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. Solar energy collection pool safety cover system (10), wherein the system (10) comprises - a roller (11) arranged to be mounted adjacent to a pool (1), - a safety cover (20) connected to said roller (11) at a first end edge (20.1) and arranged to be wound on said roller (11), said safety cover (20) comprising means (14) for attaching at least a second opposite end edge (20,2) of said safety cover (20) to a second opposite side (1.2) of the pool (1), - flexible photovoltaic solar panels (21) integrated into said safety cover (20), and - means (17) for rotating said roller (11). The system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the system (10) further comprises - a channel (23) for liquid circulation, the channel (23) being integrated into said safety cover (20), said channel (23) is arranged so that the liquid circulating in the channel (20) is heated by convection heat from said integrated flexible photovoltaic solar panels (21) and radiant heat from the sun (3), - a heat exchanger (13) in fluid communication with said channel (23), and - a pump (12) arranged to circulate liquid in a circuit between the heat exchanger and the channel (23) in the safety cover (twenty). The system (10) according to claim 2, wherein the system (10) further comprises a heat pump system arranged to use liquid heated from the channel (23). The system (10) according to claim 3, wherein the heat pump system is wholly or partly supplied with energy from the flexible photovoltaic solar panels (21). The system (10) according to any claim 2-4, wherein the integrated flexible photovoltaic solar panels (21) are arranged located at a distance from each other, so that parts of the safety cover (20), having the integrated channel (23), are exposed to direct radiant heat from the sun (3), wherein the part of the safety cover (20) that is exposed to direct radiant heat from the sun (3) is between 5% and 50 % of the total area of the safety cover (20), preferably between 10% and 25%. The system (10) according to any claim 2-5, wherein the safety cover (20) comprises two separate channel circuits (23), one to cool the panels (21), and one to absorb radiation heat from the sun (3), and where the channel circuit arranged to cool the panels (21) is arranged in the safety cover (20) below the panels (21) and where the channel circuit arranged to absorb heat from radiation from the sun (3) is arranged in the safety cover (20) between the panels (21). The system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the system (10) further comprises - a channel (23) for circulation of water (2) from the pool (1), the channel (23) is integrated into said safety cover (20), said channel (23) is arranged so that water (2) circulating in the channel (20) is heated by convection heat from said integrated flexible photovoltaic solar panels (21) and radiant heat from the sun (3), and - a pump in fluid communication with the pool (1) and the channel (23), and arranged to circulate water (2) in a circuit between the pool (1) and the channel (23) in the safety cover ( twenty). 8. The system (10) according to claim 7, wherein the pump is a conventional pool pump and the system (10) is arranged to circulate the water (2) of the pool (1) by means of a system of Conventional pool filtering in the circuit between the pool (1) and the channel (23). The system (10) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the integrated flexible photovoltaic solar panels (21) are arranged located at a distance from each other, so that parts of the safety cover (20), having the integrated channel (23), are exposed to direct radiant heat from the sun (3), wherein the part of the safety cover (20) that is exposed to direct radiant heat from the sun (3) is between 5% and 50 % of the total area of the safety cover (20), preferably between 10% and 25%.